HAVANA, Nov 17 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — The former city that became the Cuban capital is celebrating its 505th birthday on Saturday with a campaign named “Loyal to Havana,” a restoration movement undertaken by the Historian’s Office to return its beauty and splendor to the city.
In a press conference, the director of communication of the Office of the City Historian (OHCH), Magda Resik, said that like every year, all this effort to recover our city is dedicated to the most passionate Havana resident, Eusebio Leal.
He continues to be the greatest lover of this city, the most faithful walker through its streets, Resik added.
That loyalty that inspires us does not need so many explanations. Without a doubt, Leal surrounds us and inspires us to the fullest with the heritage and cultural values treasured here in the oldest places, she pointed out.
One of the buildings in the process of rescue is the Convent of Santa Clara, founded in 1644 and of great heritage value.
It is one of the most important works in Havana, whose restoration has been masterful, and when its execution is finished it will be used as a school for the study of the arts of restoration for Cuba and the Caribbean, as defined by the technical deputy director of the investment direction at the OHCH, Jesús Ramírez.
The restoration of the buildings at Malecón 507 and 511, works of heritage grade from the 1920s, will also be destined to a Cultural Center for the headquarters of the Architecture Biennial, he explained.
The specialist also referred to the legendary La Punta Castle, from the colonial era, as well as The House of Asia and Old Square, among the projects.
The tours of historic places, workshops with children, adolescents and young people, and a whole participatory process, were not long in coming, in general, for the whole family, organizers said.
This campaign was generated from the Historic Center of Havana and one of the greatest expectations is for the 15th edition of the Havana Biennial, which has just opened (November 15) and will extend until February 28, they concluded.
Meanwhile, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel congratulated Havana on its 505th anniversary.
“Congratulations, beautiful Havana,” the head of State posted in a message on X.
“We will tirelessly work every day to heal the wounds left by the hurricane and those opened by the relentless passage of time,” Diaz-Canel added in a message with the hashtag #DePieYCombatiendo.
The anniversary of the founding of the Village of San Cristobal de La Habana (Havana), one of the first seven founded by the Spanish colonizers in Cuba, is celebrated every year on Nov 16.
This year’s celebrations include the Leales a La Habana (Loyal to Havana) communication campaign, which pays tribute to the city and its historian, Eusebio Leal Spengler (1942-2020).
Other activities feature the inauguration of restored buildings in the city’s Old Quarters, the launch of books, photo exhibitions, the traditional walk around the Ceiba tree at El Templete garden, an artistic gala, and other cultural events. — NNN-PRENSA LATINA
