Havana: History and Architecture of a Romantic City

by Maria Luisa Lobo Montalvo, Hugh Thomas (Contributor), Lorna S. Fox (Translator)

Havana, the legendary capital of Cuba, bears the traces of every stage of the island's rich history, from its indigenous traditions to the introduction of European culture in the late fifteenth century to the development of the unique amalgam of these influences that is unmistakably Cuban. In this exquisite volume, author María Luisa Lobo Montalvo presents the architecture and history of Havana―part of which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site―in an accessible and engaging text and specially commissioned color photographs. Among the structures featured are the famed great forts such as Castillo del Morro and Castillo de la Punta, the city's oldest extant structures; an array of houses, from all periods of Havana's history and in all styles, simultaneously offering architectural and cultural history; and the great churches, including the Church of La Merced and the great baroque Havana Cathedral, and institutional structures, such as the magnificent Palace of the Captains General, showing the public face of Havana at its most resplendent. Discussions of each phase of the city's development are accompanied by detailed case studies of the period's most significant buildings, which include the architectural history and heritage of each structure as well as comprehensive new and archival documentation, including photographs, prints, paintings, and historical artifacts. Throughout her presentation of the buildings, Lobo Montalvo reveals the unique expression of design and decorative elements, customs and traditions that characterize the architecture of Havana.

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Ann Greyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posthumously published, “Havana: History and Architecture of a Romantic City” by my cousin Maria Luisa Lobo y Montalvo, offers an illustrated look into the history and architecture, mostly reflecting social class or standing, of Havana — part of which has been declared a World Heritage Site of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Notable architectural examples include: the fortress Castillo del Morro; the Iglesia y Convento de Nuestra Senora de Belen, which is the city’s largest religious complex occupying an entire block; and the Baroque Catedral de La Habana, which houses the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese.

The oversized, hard-covered book is arranged chronologically with photographs and paintings accompanied with text infused with the author's personal recollections. It makes the perfect coffee table showpiece.

The author links herself to Havana with this heartfelt memoir of childhood memories and bourgeois nostalgia. The narrative evokes sentimental connections because it addresses the concern about an ideological and emotional divide between people who remained in Cuba after the Cuban Revolution, and those who fled into exile, which has led to decades-old divides between different segments of Cuba’s population.

Maria Luisa was the first wife of John Joseph Ryan III, who descends from Tipperary, Ireland. Their four children: Victoria Ryan, John Ryan IV, Carolina Ryan Camperio, and Alin Ryan Smith are all my cousins.

[Paula Berinstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gorgeous book! The author was the daughter of a rich and powerful Cuban and reflects her status as such, with no acknowledgement that Cuba’s economy and infrastructure were built upon slavery. Nevertheless, the book is useful for highlighting the city’s architecture. Expensive but highly recommended if you want to get a feel for what the city looks like. (I am using the book as research for a historical novel I’m working on.)

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hauntingly beautiful!