10 things you should know about El Capitolio

[El Presidente]

I love the Capitolio building. I am always blown away when reminded that this masterpiece was built in just over 3 years.  Today there are buildings in Havana Vieja and Vedado that I have watched them work on for over a decade  

 

https://cubadirect.co.uk/blog/el-capitolio-ten-fun-facts-about-havanas-most-photographed-building#

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• It took three years, two months and 20 days to build

  Considering the scale of the building, this was a remarkably fast achievement for that era. Between 1926 and 1929 five thousand workers helped complete the construction. Five workers died in the process, and they are still remembered today by a stone plaque inside.

• It became the tallest building in Havana upon completion

   

  

  Nothing on this scale had been built in Havana before El Capitolio. At 92 metres (302 feet) tall, it was a big statement for the city, a symbol of the prosperity and grandioseness of the times. It wasn't overtaken as the tallest building until 30 years later, when in the 1950s the radio and television network building FOCSA was constructed, which still today stands as Havana's tallest building.

• The dome was once the third-largest in the world

   

  

  Measuring at 62 metres (203 feet) and made of granite and limestone, this dome changed forever the panorama of Havana. And whilst over the past 90 years its size has been far surpassed by many other buildings around the world, its scale and beauty still impress visitors to the city today. At night it is light up, taking on a more shiny and dreamy appearance.

• It houses the world's third-largest indoor statue

   

  

  Situated in the "Salon de los Pasos Perdidos" (Room of the Lost Steps) is an 11-metre tall bronze woman, representing a mythic guardian of work and virtue. As sizes of indoor statues go, it is surpassed only by the Abraham Lincoln statue in Washington DC, USA, and a Buddha statue in Nara, Japan.

• It officially marks kilometre zero for Cuba

   

  

  Distances from Havana are measured from this building. To be very precise, the exact spot is marked in the centre of the main hall by a replica diamond. Why a replica? The original 24-carat diamond, thought to have originally belonged to the Russian Tsar Nicholas II, was stolen in 1946. It was returned later that year, but it was wisely decided not to have such a valuable item on display that could tempt thieves to steal it again.

• It is NOT a copy of the US Capitol Building

  Contrary to many beliefs, at first sight, El Capitolio is not a copy of the US Capitol Building in Washington DC, USA. In fact, according to El Capitolio's chief architect, Eugenio Rayneri Piedra, the inspiration for the dome came from the Panthéon in Paris, which itself was inspired by Tempietto in Montorio, Rome, Italy.

  But sure, comparisons are still made with the US Capitol Building, as both designs come from a similar architectural genre. But the most important comparison to remember, as people will not hesitate to tell you, is that El Capitolio is taller than the US Capitol Building - by one metre! El Capitolio is also much more ornate and with elements related to Cuba. For example, the magnificent doors at the main entrance are made of ornamented bronze and depict scenes from Cuban history.

• It is visible from Ernest Hemingway's old house

  A popular trip to make during a visit to Havana is to travel ten miles to the outskirts of the city to visit Ernest Hemingway's old house. Whilst peering through the window of his old pad is a curious bit of voyeurism into Hemingway's life in Havana, take a look into the distance towards the centre and El Capitolio is there, still dominating the skyline. Considering Hemingway spent much of the last 20 years of his life in Havana, one can only imagine how many times he gazed at El Capitolio.

• The gardens were designed by the French architect who designed the park surrounding the Eiffel Tower

   

  

  Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier was in his 60s when he moved to Havana for 5 years with some new assignments. One of them was for El Capitolio. Surrounding the building is some elegant gardens. Whilst Forestier brought some French influences with him to Havana, he was also respectful of using Caribbean elements, such as adorning the gardens with local trees.

  His influence in Havana can also be felt today by walking along the northern end of Paseo del Prado, a promenade which he helped design. Today it is officially titled "Paseo de Martí", but most people still use the old name, which curiously derives not from its similarity to a Parisian promenade but to Prado in Madrid.

• For over 50 years it was used as an academic building

  In 1959 the congress that was sitting in El Capitolio was abolished. A new government building was subsequently built in "Plaza de la Revolución" (Revolution Square). With so much empty space left inside El Capitolio, from 1962 its use was given to the Cuban Academy of Sciences and the National Library of Science and Technology. In recent years it has been undergoing restoration with the intention of gradually rehousing the Cuban parliament.

• It has recently re-opened to visitors

 

[Ryan]

It is a lovely building.

I can confirm it is visible from Ernest Hemingway's house. It's in here, just to the right of the tall palm.

Hunters and Frankau took us on a private tour in February 2018, just before it opened up to the public.

Very impressive. That's Gaby Chase, Simon's wife at the foot of the statue. It turned out to be Simon's last trip to Cuba.

Gaby, Simon and Jemma in this picture.

The Cuban "Tomb of the unknown soldier" is also in the building.

Then we were brought in to see government chambers, supposedly to be used for that purpose again in future, though who knows.

I said to Paresh Patel, "I'll give you $10 if you ask the tour guide which side of the room the opposition party will sit on." The tour was briefly interrupted with his laughing!

 

 

 

[El Presidente]

Great pics and story Andy. Thanks for sharing. 

[Nino]

@El Presidente - Funny they forgot the Eleventh most interesting thing you should know about the Capitolio for cigar smokers ....

In 2006 we had the Welcome Night of the Festival there ( after a ballet next door at the Teatro Nacional ) and a great buffet and we found the place has beautiful "Red Devils" ... at least that is what my buddy Stocki and I called them pretty tall ladies 🙂

Some of Stocki's and my pictures from the event.

[Jack]

El Capitolio and the amigos greet me every morning when I sit down at my desk.

[Fuzz]

  On 8/10/2021 at 11:56 AM, El Presidente said:

I love the Capitolio building. I am always blown away when reminded that this masterpiece was built in just over 3 years.  Today there are buildings in Havana Vieja and Vedado that I have watched them work on for over a decade  

 

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5000 workers, 3yrs, 2mths & 20 days, at 8hrs of work per day, that's roughly 47 million man hours. Even with 1000 workers (pretty sure they don't even have 100 people on the job), over ten years you'd have just over 29 million man hours of work.

[El Presidente]

  On 8/11/2021 at 12:44 AM, Fuzz said:

5000 workers, 3yrs, 2mths & 20 days, at 8hrs of work per day, that's roughly 47 million man hours. Even with 1000 workers (pretty sure they don't even have 100 people on the job), over ten years you'd have just over 29 million man hours of work.

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.....and I am only talking about refurbishing a roof 

[Fuzz]

  On 8/11/2021 at 12:49 AM, El Presidente said:

.....and I am only talking about refurbishing a roof 

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The roof could have been refurbished in 1 yr, but they needed to show employment rates are steady or improving.

[El Presidente]

  On 8/11/2021 at 12:59 AM, Fuzz said:

The roof could have been refurbished in 1 yr, but they needed to show employment rates are steady or improving.

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it is hard to complete a job when the materials are being taken in turn by those on the job........

If you actually finish the job....the extra income ends 

 

[Fuzz]

  On 8/11/2021 at 1:03 AM, El Presidente said:

it is hard to complete a job when the materials are being taken in turn by those on the job........

If you actually finish the job....the extra income ends 

 

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That just means the Govt can report on higher employment stats for many more years to come! Win, win!!