Hotel Nacional,
forever elegant

Distinguished for its elegance, beauty and majesty, the Hotel Nacional of Cuba reaches its 80th year of existence with a vintage charm that continues to attract visitors from around the world, including artists, dignitaries and other celebrities.

From its privileged position atop the rocky outcrop by the sea known as Taganana Hill, the Nacional opened its doors to Havana on December 30, 1930. It belongs to the Gran Caribe hotel group and is the flagship hotel of Cuba.

In the middle of the 19th Century, the Santa Clara artillery and the Ordonez cannon were set on this same Taganana Hill; the name also borne by the hotel’s posh restaurant.

The Ordonez was one of the largest cannons Spain used to defend its colony from attacks by pirates and other enemies. This colonial military relic still has pride of place in the hotel gardens.

The Hotel Nacional was built by United States firms Mc Kim, Mead & White and Purdy Henderson Co., which took two years to complete the meticulous details of its eclectic architecture: a combination of Art Deco, Neoclassical and Neocolonial. According to experts, the main floor of the Nacional resembles the three parallel naves of a medieval church, and the simulated roof beams recall an old Catalan monastery with Moorish influence.

One does not need to be an expert however, to appreciate the large galleries with their Spanish-Moorish arches, reminiscent of monastic cloisters.

The Nacional has 462 rooms, six bars, three restaurants, two swimming pools, a fitness centre, a business centre and a floor reserved for executives. From this...