If you ask any Habanero (resident of Havana) to identify the heart of the city, the unhesitating response will be
"La Rampa." Thi...
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Well known Cuban contemporary photographer, Pedro Abascal is a self-taught artist of the lens who has been working as a profession...
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Cancun, Mexico is located in the northern part of Quintana Roo State. It is the country's main tourist destination, noted for its ...
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Ye Old Obispo Street
By: Mercedes Ramos | Photos: Nelson and Liudmila
A walk along pedestrian-only Obispo Street, in the oldest area of the Cuban capital, is like walking through Cuban history. Built around 1519, the same year as the city was founded, this was one of the city's first streets.
Running north to south, from Avenida del Puerto to Monserrate Street, its first buildings were constructed of royal palm wood and guano, like the rest of the buildings in the growing town of San Cristóbal de la Habana.
Almost from the very beginning this popular street became a commercial one. Because it was so close to the harbour, many small stores opened along the street to satisfy the needs of the population.
It was on Obispo Street that the first photographic studio in the country and Latin America opened January 3rd, 1841. It was also the first street in Havana to be asphalted and to boast street lighting.
Over the course of its almost 500 years of existence this street, now closed to vehicular traffic, has had 47 names. At one point it was named San Juan because it was the way to the San Juan de Letrán Convent. In 1794 it was called Consulado Street as the Royal Agriculture and Commerce Consulate was there. It...
