Plaza de la Revolución

Steeped in history, this is one of Cuba’s most iconic public spaces. Covering around 72,000 square meters, it ranks among the largest squares in the world, and standing here in the middle of it all, you can’t help but feel tiny against such vastness. Designed in 1920 by French urban planner Jean-Claude Forestier, it was first known as the Civic Square before taking its current name in 1961. On an ordinary day it feels almost empty, which makes the contrast with the massive gatherings held here since 1959 even more striking. This is where Fidel Castro, the great leader of the Cuban Revolution, delivered his most famous speeches to crowds of up to a million people, sometimes speaking for more than six hours at a time. Since then, the square has become the stage for the country’s major political and popular events, including the International Workers’ Day celebration every May 1st. Enormous yet oddly austere, the square is now split in two by a wide road, adding to the sense of a space designed more for function than for comfort. Surrounded by the Ministry of the Interior, the Council of State, the Council of Ministers, and the headquarters of the Communist Party, it truly is the political heart of Cuba. And as soon as you look up, two giant portraits immediately grab your attention. The first, instantly recognizable, is Ernesto “Che” Guevara. The mural, created in 1993, recreates the legendary photo taken by Alberto Korda in 1960, complete with the slogan “Hasta la victoria siempre” — ever onward to victory. The other is Camilo Cienfuegos, a fellow revolutionary alongside Che and Castro. His image was added in 2009 with the words “Vas bien Fidel,” meaning “You’re on the right track, Fidel,” a phrase he had shouted to Castro during a speech back in 1959. Gazing at these colossal portraits and the vast esplanade that surrounds them, you can still feel how deeply the Cuban Revolution has shaped the nation’s identity. So take a moment to absorb the solemn atmosphere of this extraordinary square before continuing your walk through El Vedado.