CUBA / Havana / Buldings along the Melacon
Avenida de Maceo (The Malecón) is a broad esplanade, roadway and seawall. Construction of the Malecón began in 1901 and stretches for 8 km along the coast from La Habana Veija (Old Havana) to Vedado. The buildings that face the sea cover three different city districts with various architectural styles. The old 16th century Castillo de la Real Fuerza in Old Havana to 18th and 19th townhouses on the seafront and finally Meyer Lansky’s Havana Rivera Hotel which was built in the 1950’s. Avenida de Maceo is located in La Habana Vieja which is one of the fifteen municipalities that make up Havana. Situated in the city-center, La Habana Vieja has a population of 91,000, out of over two million of the cities residences. In 2008 Hurricane Ike devastated this part of the city causing widespread damage to many historic buildings and forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes. A restoration program is currently underway to repair these buildings to their former splendour and so far over three hundred and fifty buildings have been restored.

© David Creedon / Anzenberger