Hotel Habana Libre
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The 416-foot-tall Hotel Habana Libre (Free Havana Hotel, Calle L, e/ 23 y 25) was once the place to be after opening as the Havana Hilton in April 1958. Castro even had his headquarters here briefly in 1959. For years the hotel teemed with shady foreigners—many of them, reported National Geographic, “not strictly tourists” and all “watched by secret police agents from the ‘ministry,’ meaning MININT, the Ministry of the Interior.”
Hotel Tryp Habana Libre is fronted by a spectacular contemporary mural—Carro de la Revolución (the Revolutionary Car)—by ceramist Amelia Peláez, made of 525 pieces in the style of Picasso. The modernist lobby contains many fine contemporary art pieces, including a mosaic mural by René Portocarrero.
© Christopher P. Baker from Moon Cuba, 5th Edition
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Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.