I was looking again at my blog and realise have wonderful old pictures on sites not really develop and they should stand alone, I went into my Havana and found me pictures from my last trip there in 2012 that needed to have a post of their own, Family memories flashing ; here is my new take on Calle Oficios of Havana ! Hope you enjoy the post as I
The Calle Oficios was a very much visited street by my family and I just went over to walked it and got me a picture that help do this post, It is one of the most visited in the historic center of the city. It was projected from the creation of the main square, today Plaza de Armas, and in 1584 it was one of the four streets that the town of San Cristóbal de La Habana had. Currently simply refer to as La Habana or Havana (eng) Havane (Fr), Calle de Oficios goes from the Plaza de Armas to the Alameda de Paula, Habana Vieja or Old Havana.
Its name is due to the fact that small establishments were grouped along its route where trades such as carpentry, shoemaking, watchmaking, among many others, ended up being its distinctive characteristic. The street had 43 high houses, 14 had a hall, 32 were low and there were 191 accessories. When in 1584 Havana only had four streets, this was one of the main ones, drawn from the foundation of the main square, later Plaza de Armas. It was called De los Oficios, because from this square to that of San Francisco, it was full of craftsmen.
The Casa de Oficios no 8, together with the adjoining ones that make up the corner of Calle Obispo, constitute one of the oldest that was built very close to the founding site of the city. According to the legend of the 17C documents, the first three lots corresponded to the Episcopal Palace . The Schools for Infants (or San Ambrosio for boys), and De Niñas Doncellas or maidens girls (or San Francisco de Sales) , both founded by Bishop Don Diego Evelino de Compostela, the first prelate to open the doors to public education in the country. The plot that the Casa de Oficios occupies today was the one corresponding to the Episcopal Palace or house of the bishops.
In 1579 the Franciscan friars took possession of the land where the building that served as the headquarters of the old temple and Convent of San Francisco de Asís (see post) was erected, whose manufacture lasted 12 years. In 1739 the temple was consecrated, which due to the magnificence of its interior space, became the favorite of Havana society. The house on Calle Oficios No. 160 , maintains its domestic function, serving as a home for its inhabitants. It is one of the old buildings that faces the Plaza de San Francisco. It appears as one of the oldest buildings in this area, because although it was rebuilt during the 19C, its construction system denotes greater antiquity. In addition, due to the importance of this site, its occupation was carried out from a very early period. The Plaza San Francisco or Saint Francis Square owes its name to the Convent of San Francisco de Asís, located here since the end of the 16C. In the center of the square stands the Fuente de los Leones, or Lions fountain a gift to Havana by Claudio Martínez de Pinillos, Count of Villanueva, and placed here in 1836.
The Palacio de Gobierno or government palace is a magnificent neoclassical construction, which became one of the three large buildings for public use of the first republican decade in Cuba, it was erected as an extension of an old house that at the end of the War of Independence in 1895, after the USA military occupation was destined to house the House of Representatives. As recorded, it was the third building where the national flag was raised before May 20, 1902 (Republic of Cuba founded) . In May 2000, the building built in the 20C became the Government Palace Museum. Calle Oficios no. 211 between Muralla (ramparts of old Havana now also a street) ,and Callejón de Churruca streets.
The Alexander of Humboldt house was inaugurated as a house-museum on October 31, 1997. The 18C building has five exhibition rooms. In order to rescue, preserve, investigate and publicize the historical legacy of the German scholar Alejandro de Humboldt, the institution maintains a permanent exhibition that includes plates, books, scientific instruments and copies of original documents, duly ordered and identified, about events of the life of the German scholar, his work in the sciences and his relationship with Cuba in terms of nature and society. There is also, the Alexander of Humboldt Library. It is specialized in the German language, it hoards more than three thousand copies, mostly classical and contemporary literature from countries that speak this language. It has art and reference books, children’s literature texts, as well as a collection of biographies of about a hundred personalities of culture, science and politics of the 20C. It has an active and passive bibliography on the second discoverer of Cuba, including copies in Spanish. Located in the Alejandro de Humboldt House. Calle Oficios no. 254 corner to Muralla.Also, the Monument to Alexander de Humboldt. A bronze bust pays him a well-deserved tribute in the park that bears his name, very close to the museum house that discloses his life and work. Calle Oficios corner with Muralla,same spot
Museo Casa de los Arabes or House of the Arabs Museum is located in an old building from the late 18C and early 19C. Refunctionalized as a cultural institution, its main objective is to disseminate the values of the Arab world based on its customs, traditions, art, architecture and the study of the Arab presence in Cuba, from the first contacts that led to Spanish colonization, and later the movement migration that occurred between the 19C and 20C, Related to it is the .Biblioteca Ibn Jaldún or Ibn Khaldun Library. It has important collections of Arab and Islamic themes, especially editions of historical chronicles from the 19C, essays on Islam, and texts on contemporary Arab and Islamist history and art. It also treasures volumes about Arab immigration in Cuba and Latin America. Calle Oficios no. 16, between Obispo and Obrapía streets, Old Havana.
You have the museo del Automovil or Automobile Museum. The Automobile Depot is divided into two exhibition rooms, which share the entire collection made up of 30 passenger cars, 2 rigid trucks, a hearse, a special vehicle, 7 motorcycles, a traffic light, 3 fuel pumps and 2 didactic rows. The oldest vehicle in the collection dates from 1905 and the most modern from 1989; They are primarily of North American construction, although there are examples made in Italy, Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Calle Oficios no 13 corner of Jústiz and Obra Pía streets, Old Havana,
The Museo de Arte Sacro or Sacred Art Museum is inside the Minor Basilica of San Francisco Asís that also functions as a concert hall, The collection of religious paintings is exhibited. In the spaces of the prestigious concert hall, images are shown, mainly from the 18C, together with other pieces of a religious nature, among them the slippers and the rain cape that belonged to the first Auxiliary Bishop of Cuba, Dionisio Rezino y Ormachea, embroidered in Mexico at the end of the 17C in silk, gold threads and precious stones. This is at Calle Oficios between Amargura and Churruca streets, Old Havana.
You have the colegio or College of San Francisco de Sales. Around 1688, when this house was bought by Bishop Diego Evelino de Compostela, it already presented an appearance similar to the current one. When the San Francisco de Sales School for orphaned girls was immediately installed there, reforms were gradually introduced, the largest of which consisted of adding a third floor that is only expressed to the outside by Calle Obispo street, and the replacement of the original tile roofs for the current flat roofs, Calle Oficios no.6, corner with Calle Obispo, Old Havana.
Other interesting buildings here amongst the many are the Casa del Tesorero Baltazar de Soto or House of Treasurer Baltazar de Soto ,Calle Oficios 51-53. It is an old 17C building, remodeled during the 18-19C, The Casa del Marqués De Casa Calderón ,calle Oficios no, 312. This mansion is an important example of 18C architecture, in whose last decades it acquired its physiognomy only occasionally varied in the XIX Men’s College or San Ambrosio Seminary ,calle Oficios no 8. A balanced simplicity characterizes this house, where the San Ambrosio College was located from 1689 to 1774, when it was transferred to the Seminary next to the Cathedral. Calle Oficios no 12, between Obispo and Obra Pía street, The Casa del Conde De Casa Barreto. Only an original portion, which includes the facades, remains of this stately mansion with a privileged location due to its proximity to the port. Calle Oficios no. 362, corner to calle Luz.
Calle Oficios in its extension it links emblematic places of the city such as the Plaza de Armas, the Plaza de San Francisco and the Alameda de Paula. Its a must to walk it see it smell it it is wonderful old Havana,even if now many crumble, I am putting official Cuba tourist sites for references ,bear in mind, the above also come from my library with more information.
The official today Cuba tourist board on Havana : https://www.cuba.travel/en/destinations/havana-cuba
The official today Infotur tourist guide to Cuba on Havana : https://infotur.cu/en/destinos/havana
There you go folks, another nostalgic spot in my life and happy to be able to share it with the world. Havana goes deep with me, even if now is a distant star flicking for survival, I believe you should know these places and eventually visit in better freer times , Again, hope you enjoy the post on Calle Oficios of Havana or La Habana as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 