The Avenue of the Port of Havana

THE AVENUE OF THE PORT (Avenida del Puerto), ARISING AS A BALCONY SPECIES THAT REPLACED THE OLD WALLS THAT BLOCK ACCESS TO HAVANA, HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO A RANDOM RESTORATION AND RESCUE PROCESS FROM 2009

For decades, plunged into oblivion, like an artery bordering that “valley of interesting ruins” in which Old Havana was almost converted, Avenida del Puerto was seeing decay of splendor and collapsing on itself, the patrimonial legacy kept by the industries built in their environment. Sitting on the ground stolen from the sea to extend the boundaries of the city, its magnificence began with the construction of the Alameda de Paula, the first promenade built in 1777 by the architect Antonio Fernández de Trebejos, by order of Captain General Felipe de Fondesviela, Marquis of the Tower, coming from the court of Carlos III, and influenced by the French Enlightenment.

With the creation of the Alameda in the old land of the garbage dump of the town, known as El Rincón, the social life moved to its surroundings and it was then that the city truly extended to the sea. Starting from a walk, it is not surprising that Avenida del Puerto emerged as a kind of balcony, which replaced the old sea walls that blocked access to Havana.

Its gradual expansion left this site until reaching the vicinity of La Punta, being established as an anteroom of the Malecón. Divided into four fundamental sections, the first, from La Punta to the Cavalry Wharf; the second, from the well-known «Cube», Chamber of Bars of the Sewer System of Havana, to the Almacenes San José, one of the first intervened spaces; the third, from that place to La Coubre; and a quarter, until Cancedo, since 2009 has been subject to a random process of restoration and rescue, as a space of communion between the city and the sea, renovated as the main access to the Historic Center. Among its current values, it has important works already completed and others in progress, included in the broad program of actions planned to celebrate the advent of the 500th anniversary of the city.

In the presentation of the project before the media, referring to what has been achieved so far in this artery: since the rescue of the Alameda de Paula, crowned by its Church; San José Warehouses and the Old Tobacco and Wood Warehouse, now converted into a commercial establishment, the Historian of the City, Eusebio Leal, pointed out that the restoration plan of Avenida del Puerto is decisive for the image of the Historic Center as World Heritage, as is the purification of the waters of the bay: a challenge. And at that moment he expressed:

“Everyone who comes to Cuba and Havana is enchanted by the architecture of a marvelous city, which by world vote occupies that place. Everyone marvel at the eclectic city that in different spaces shows our character, our way of being. What is most surprising, what is most esteemed, what is most appreciated is the people, the capacity of the people to be hospitable, to receive. They would not reach all the authorities of the world to the side of each citizen, try to maintain a balanced, fair, educated dialogue with those who come and will come. That has to be the result of a vocation and a desire ».

And it is precisely because of a vocation and a desire that Avenida del Puerto, Havana’s famous artery stolen from the sea to create a space for recreation and circulation since colonial times, is currently presented as a renovated lookout that opens onto the bay, where the industrial and cultural heritage, art, economy and tourism have a place, in the very heart of a living and latent city.