These days, since I’ve been travelling to Old Havana by taxi instead of by bike, I’ve been thinking about carving out a moment to visit the National Capitol—one of those guided tours. I’ve already looked into the available times for these visits, and now it’s just a matter of aligning them with my own schedule.
In fact, the photos I’m showing you were taken from its grand staircase. Thanks to my 45–200 mm zoom lens, I was able to observe from there the various sculpted scenes on the front wall of this magnificent building. The statues that invite us to enter are representations of the Tutelary Virtue and Labour, sculpted by the Italian artist Angelo Zanelli and commissioned between the years 1926 and 1929, during the government of Gerardo Machado.
I’d never captured this angle of the Capitol before. And although I waited a while for the flag to unfurl more gracefully, it wasn’t quite enough—impatience always gets the better of me... haha... no, not really, I was just under pressure from another commitment.
Ever since I took these photos, I’d intended to convert them to Black and White—but looking closely at these three, it feels a shame to strip them of their colours... what do you think?
I’m quite drawn to the idea of stepping inside to admire the Capitol, as it’s been so many years since I last visited—and to be honest, I’m not even sure I still have the photos I took ages ago when I did...
I’d have to photograph the details of that door as well—can you see them? They’re magnificent. And once inside, I’ll be face to face with Zanelli’s other great sculpture, the Statue of the Republic, cast in bronze and gilded in 24-carat gold, standing at a total height of 17.54 metres (including the pedestal) and 14.6 metres without it. It’s the largest indoor statue in the Americas. I’ll tell you more soon—not just the technical details, but what standing in her presence makes me feel. 😉
Now I invite you to take in those details I mentioned, and the sculpted scenes that unfold across the façade. A new week begins—may our plans find their true course and take shape with grace.
Cheers!
Original content by @nanixxx. All rights reserved ©, 2025.
Every image I include in my posts is mine. When it’s not, I credit the source in a caption.
Hello @nanixxx, good afternoon. The photos of the Capitol have impressed me; there's a lot of art inside. I've seen reliefs, garlands, cow skulls... the gate... a lot of craftsmanship. The color photos are great as is.
I hope you'll have time to show us pictures of the interior soon.
Feliz tarde!! A very big hug!! 🤗
Hi, ;) Those reliefs are stunning, aren’t they?
I hope so, though we’ll see… I’m not sure my camera will work properly in there.
😂 Feliz tarde. Estaba jugando ajedrez pero me han apaleado. Mejor cambio de actividad.
I don't know if it's any consolation, but I've never played anything well... I can't even learn the rules of a stupid card game...
Have a good afternoon!!
I love playing chess, but I don’t have anyone to play with, so I go long stretches without practising. Then I lose sharpness. And in this tournament, they were playing rapid games… It’s brutal for someone who hasn’t played in a long time.
So next time will be better... here in the neighborhood there was a chess club and you could see people playing in the street... that was decades ago...
Mira mi actuación... 😁 Desde Oct de 2023 no tocaba un tablero.
Mucho tiempo... 2 años!!! 😮
Without a doubt, the Capitol is a jewel and a heritage of the country, full of art, history, and architecture.
Wow 😍 !!!
😄
Thank you!
No se si sabes que la escultura que está dentro es la tercera más alta del mundo en interior!
En Wikipedia dice: En 2025 ocupa el puesto 67 de las estatuas bajo techo más altas del mundo (sin pedestal incluido)
Espero poder clarificar mis dudas durante la visita. 😁
Gracias.
Ajá será interesante averiguar...
The details of the door are impressive, as are the sculptures, and I really liked seeing those colour photos. It is a place of pure art and great expression. Beautiful photographs and those final details... fabulous! Good evening!🤗
Yes, I thought that blue sky, the rooftops, and the details on that door would look beautiful in their colours. Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to admire the art. A hug.
Thank you for those wonderful photographs of such an architecturally beautiful place!
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STOPGracias por el update buzzzz ;)
¡Eso es perfecto @nanixxx! ¡Eres una verdadera inspiración para Hive! ¡Sigue adelante y logra este nuevo objetivo!
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Thank you!
Hey @nanixxx you are welcome.
Thanks for using @worldmappin 😘