CALLEJÓN DE HAMEL
Fernando de Hammel, a US-French-German arms trader during the War of Secession who settled in this alley. But it didn’t get famous until 1990, transformed the dusty side street into a mural-lined inner city wonderland. It now has small studios, galleries, welded street sculpture and altars dedicated to Afro-Cuban traditions. Saturdays at midday it fills with rumba music gatherings, boleros, poetry or children’s poetry.

Callejón de Hamel e/ Aramburu y Hospital, Centro Habana.

MUSEO DE LA REVOLUCIÓN
In what was the Presidential Palace from García Menocal, in 1920, until Fulgencio Batista, in 1958. It has a very refined style with an extraordinary cupola. The hall of mirrors and dining room, with frescos by Romañach, must be seen. Its collection walks one through 20th century Cuban history, from the first struggles to our times, and delves into the triumph of the Revolution. An essential stopover.

Refugio no. 1 e/ Ave. Misiones y Zulueta, Centro Habana. Tel. 624091

JARDÍN BOTÁNICO NACIONAL
At 25 km from downtown Havana, this gleaming botanical garden of 600 hectares (1500 acres) is well worth the trip. It has 150,000 specimens of more than four thousand different species of Cuban and international flora. Special attention must be given to the cactus pavilion, tropical rainforest, the bougainvillea selection and orchid garden, palm collection and Japanese garden. Home to one of Havana´s first vegetarian restaurants, El Bambú.

Carretera del Rocío km 3,5, Calabazar. La Habana.