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Capitolio Nacional
The Capitolio Nacional is located in the extramural area. Although it has been the subject of much criticism in the past this building is nevertheless, a testament to the high standards achieved by Cuban architects, the skill craftsmanship and technical expertise that created Havana’s Capital building for the Representatives Chamber and the Senate of the Republic.
In its past life, these grounds were the first city dump, a botanical gardens and then later the Villanueva Train Station until General Jose Miguel Gomez suggested to build a Presidential Palace. Shortly before President Menocal moved in though he decided to use it for Congress instead.
Since the 1970s this building has been the seat for the Sciences Academy of Cuba and is often host to special events and conferences.
The façade is flanked by two huge bronze statues called ‘Work’ on the left hand side and ‘The Virtue Tutelary’ on the right. They stand 7m tall, weighing 15 tons each and were executed by Italian sculptor Angelo Zanelli.
Just inside the main door the enormity of the building immediately opens up. This ‘Statue of the Republic’, created by Chiurizzi from Rome is an allegory of the Greek Goddess Athena. It stands 17.54m high and as such represents one of the biggest indoor statues in the world.
The dome rises to 91.73m exactly and is a copy, albeit slightly bigger of the Pantheon in Paris. Directly under it is this diamond here in the floor which represents the exact centre of the hallway.
Through a corridor here is this open hallway called the ‘Lost Steps Hall’. It displays an eclectic design as is characteristic throughout the building. Around the hall are 32 ornamental light stands called Torcheras in Spanish. They were cast and sculpted in France while the marble benches are Italian made.
The tender for the project was won by Eugenio Rayneri Sorrentino and his son Eugenio Rayneri Piedra who estimated the cost at 200million pesos.
Due to the change in circumstances of its use architects Felix Cabarrocas and Evelio Govantes modified the designs, further adding extra features such as the hemicycles at each end of the building, increasing the dimensions of the steps and dome. The construction was presided over by Antonio Fernandez de Castro and Rayneri Piedra, while the main architects were Francisco Centurion and Luis Echevarria.
Work was eventually underway in December of 1917 although it experienced a little hiccup on the way. Menocal halted work in 1919 due to the hike in construction prices.
A new change in government in 1925 put Govantes and Cabarrocas jointly in charge of completing the project. Another change of architect occurred when Raoul Otero took charge and was given the responsibility of finishing it before the 4th International Conference of the Americas in January 1928. However, over time several more architects were appointed as it almost seemed the building would never get completed.
This is the Bolivar Room named after the Liberator Simon Bolivar. Since it’s right behind the main chamber the room was disposed for the President of the Chamber of Representatives. The illustrious decoration screams of pure Imperial style. The furniture and ornaments here are priceless.
The door in the middle of the room of course leads into the chambers once again. From this stage the main government ministers would have sat. Art work, sculptures and even a gold plated ceiling reveal the truly magnificent ambience of this room.
The acoustics for the room are optimum as would have been needed for the hundreds of government ministers packed into this room. Other things though like the small items such as the brass cigar holders and ashtrays on each desk also add that bit of lavishness to the decor.
In the middle of the room is an odd looking semi-circular desk. This would have been for the secretaries taking notes and when they had to leave they would use the stairs leading below so as not to disturb the proceedings or the speaker.
Going down towards the other end of the building now are more rooms lacking none of the extravagance already seen here. Their names are also consistent with the memories of those martyrs and heroes of Cuba’s past like Baire, Jimaguayu, Baragua, Yara and others.
Most of the marble work in the building was executed by the Italian firm of Remuzi brothers while a few selected areas were supplied by a German firm called Grasyma.
To conclude then, after several suspensions, a hike in prices and many architects later the Capitolio Nacional sitting on an area of 39,875m², was finally inaugurated on the 20th of May 1929.
After completion the famous Cuban Historian Roig de Leuchsenring lashed out at the project, saying: “The cost of this palace which stands at $16, 640, 743.30, erected in a country of misery, poverty, illiteracy, of half naked people, bare-footed and rising numbers of starving according to official figures, it constitutes a display of exaggerated sumptuousness and squandered foolishness...”
References
Ediciones Niocia S.L., La Habana Vieja – Old Havana, 2004, pp87-91.
Juan de las Cuevas Toraya, 500 Años De Construcciones En Cuba, Havana 2001, pp258-259.
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