Gran Teatro de La Habana (Great Theatre of Havana), Havana (must see)

The Great Theater of Havana is one of Cuba’s great cultural landmarks, being home to the National Ballet of Cuba and hosts ballet, opera, concerts, and major artistic events.

Its history begins with the Tacón Theater, which opened in 1838 and became one of Havana’s most important performance venues. In its heyday, it welcomed celebrated international artists, including Enrico Caruso and Sarah Bernhardt. In the early 20th century, Havana’s Galician immigrant community financed a much larger building on the same site: the Galician Center, a social and cultural center that incorporated and transformed the old theater complex.

The present building was designed by Belgian architect Paul Belau and constructed by the American firm Purdy & Henderson between 1907 and 1915. Its lavish Baroque Revival façade is one of the most ornate in Havana, decorated with balconies, towers, carved stonework, and sculptural groups by Giuseppe Moretti and Geneva Mercer representing Charity, Education, Music, and Theater.

Inside, the main performance space is the García Lorca Auditorium, with seating for about 1,500 people. It remains the principal stage of the National Ballet of Cuba and one of the main venues of the International Ballet Festival of Havana, founded in 1960 and held every two years.

A special highlight is the bronze sculpture of Alicia Alonso in the lobby. Created by Cuban sculptor José Villa Soberón and titled Giselle, it honors the legendary ballerina whose name has been officially attached to the theater since 2015.