Overview:

El Templete is located in the heart of Old Havana and is a popular tourist attraction. It is a small monument commemorating the day in 1519 when the Spanish first arrived in Cuba and a small group of conquistadors came ashore and took possession of the land. The current structure was built in 1828 and is a simple stone monument with a lighthouse-like dome on top. The crown of the dome is lit up at night, making the monument easily identifiable to visitors. At the base of the monument there is a small museum with artifacts and information about the Spanish-Cuban relationship and history. Nearby, there is also a replica of the cross that the Spanish settlers planted during their first landing in Cuba. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Cuba
Prominent Features:

1. The entrance is marked by a massive bronze El Templete monument on Plaza de San Francisco, which commemorates the founding of Havana in November 1519. 2. The monument stands on the exact site of the first mass held in Cuba. 3. Inside the monument's archway is a large white marble statue of a seated Christopher Columbus. 4. The monument also contains busts of four historical figures important to Cuban history, including the first Spanish governor of Cuba, Diego Velazquez de Cuellar. 5. On the upper level of the statue is a great ivory doorstep and behind it there are four round medallions made of bronzes depicting Columbus' discovery of the New World. 6. The center of the monument contains a large cross, also made of ivory, with a blue heart at its center in remembrance of the country's first Catholic mass. 7. The monument's gardens feature palms, royal palms, cypress and laurel trees, among other tropical plants. 8. Beneath the main monument stands a smaller official plaque with inscription from the Cuban National Historic Heritage to commemorate the event. This national monument of Cuba portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

El Templete (“The Temple”) is located in the historic center of Havana, Cuba. It is a neoclassical monument dedicated to the founding of Havana by Diego Velázquez in 1519. The project was personally commissioned by King Carlos III in 1792, and it was supervised by the architect Francisco Cendoya. The construction was stopped due to the uncertainty between France and Spain, but it was later restarted and completed in 1828 under the supervision of the architect Antonio Facundy. El Templete is made of local stone and painted plaster, and its design is based on the Doric order. The monument consists of four main parts: a portico, a stairway, a saloon, and an altar. The portico, located at the entrance, features a tympanum with a sculpture of Velázquez surrounded by gallant figures. The columns of the portico represent the first six Havana city council members, while the stairway is said to symbolize the steps taken by the Spanish Conquistadores as they arrived on the island. The saloon holds an original painting showing the events of the foundation of the city, and the altar contains a cross which was taken from the site originally believed to be the founding spot. El Templete is closely linked to the legends of Havana, and plays a major part in the city’s historic ceremonies. Every year, on the 16th of November, the ceremony of the Parrandas de la Habana is held in front of El Templete as a symbolic commemoration of the city's founding. You must visit one of these historical places in Cuba on your Cuba tour

Interesting facts:

1. El Templete is one of Havana's oldest buildings. It was built as a celebration of the foundation of the city in 1519. 2. Located in the Parque de Armas, near the Old Town of Havana, El Templete is a replica of the original temple to which the original city founders paid homage. 3. The cornerstone of El Templete was laid in 1828 by King Ferdinand VII of Spain. 4. El Templete is made of stone and features three-story tall columns and a large dome. 5. Inside El Templete, there is an altar dedicated to the Virgin of la Caridad, the patron saint of Havana. 6. Every year, thousands of visitors make a pilgrimmage to El Templete, where they light candles and pray for the city. 7. El Templete is also the site of annual celebrations, including the festival of San Juan de Letran, held every June, and the Festival of Santa Barbara, celebrated in December. Visit one of the famous monuments of Cuba with your friends and family.