The Prado

Old Havana
Havana, Cuba

A 10-block-long, marble-balustraded, terrazzo-floored, shaded promenade with built in sit-walls that cascade down the central boulevard of Old Havana.

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Why It Works

The Prado is a lovely pedestrian boulevard that also doubles as a park; it links up important parts of Old Havana, providing an enjoyable means of getting around on foot.

What Makes The Prado a Great Place?

A staircase connects the walkway to the street at each street intersection, so if you are walking along a side street perpendicular to the Prado, at the intersection, you simply cross the street and walk up the stairs. The Prado connects the Malecon (walkway around the water) to the Central Park, City Hall and center of Old Havana.

Well-maintained and built of rich and gorgeous materials. The light fixtures are old and beautiful, the shade trees provide dappled sunlight. It is the safest and most comfortable way to walk from the water to the City Hall. Curbs and sidewalks along the edges are in disrepair and there is ALOT of traffic. So the Prado is really a pedestrian oasis.

It is used as the playfield and recess area for a number of schools that flank the street on both sides. Kids in uniforms sit and giggle and chat and kick balls (ever so gently). Tourists walk along and snap pix of the gorgeously decaying apartment buildings and mansions along the road, or gape at the vintage 1950s cars that continuously parade by.

It's so great to see school children, kids on bicycles, old people, young lovers, dogs, and basically everyone sitting along the inner and outer edges on the built-in benches and sit-walls. There is much chatting, eating, snoring, kissing, and generally enjoying life out of doors.

History & Background

Also known as the Paseo de Marti, the Prado connects Parque Central and Havana Harbor; it was completed in 1852.

Contact Info:

City of Havana, Department of Parks

User Comments:

> Add your own comment about The Prado

06/27/02 s Howick said:: The space is outstanding in its simplicity. The details are period in nature, but the connections to the adjacent neighborhood are timeless. The raised walkway separates the space from the neighborhood. Exits from the prado to the neighborhood are made at distinct intervals. The result is a separate but accessible space, allowing the neighborhood to continue to function as a place to live without feeling invaded by a major pedestrian arterial. This space like so many in Cuba need funding for maintenance.
11/20/02 derya oktay said:: The Prado is a very successful place indeed. It is a great environment for citizens to pass the time, watch the world going by, and circulate between the important magnets in Havana. Walking through the Prado, you can gather clues about the citizens of the city; you can even sit and watch the brides and grooms coming to the wedding hall on one side. The wonderful edges created by the magnificient colonial buildings on both sides add to the quality of the space a lot. Derya Oktay, Prof.Dr., North Cyprus
01/16/03 Andrew McGowan said:: The Prado is a beautiful promenade, lined with trees and built with marble. On the entrances there are two lions made of bronze which guard the entrances. The patterns in the marble floor are beautiful and intricate. What is heartbreaking is that all of the buildings on either side are crumbling and falling apart because the city cannot afford to maintain them. Some of them are simply empty shells almost like bomb victims. As a result, the Prado is not at all what it could be.
06/21/05 Lisa Moffatt said:: What hasn't been mentioned about the Prado is the social functions it serves for Habaneros. Since many Cubans share homes with extended family, the Prado is like a second living room. A place for privacy in the arms of a lover, hook up with friends or simply watch people. Also, the Prado on the weekends is a lively artists' market and realtor underground market where people actively make deals to trade homes. A beautiful place in the heart of Habana Vieja.
08/04/05 Wayne Reeves said:: A fabulous urban seam running between Old and Central Havana. During the week, school classes housed in adjacent buildings use the Prado as their play space. The informal Sunday morning art fair is also great.
03/09/07 tim Copeland said:: A tremendous place to bring rollerblades; bring a pair and donate them to a random person on the prado on your way out.
03/09/07 tim Copeland said:: View this video for lots of scenes from The Prado: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7729295318355586133&hl=en