El Capitolio

엘 카피톨리오

El Capitolio is a grand domed building in the center of Havana, the capital of Cuba. It was built as the home of the country's parliament and is now one of the city's most famous landmarks. Its look often reminds people of the United States Capitol, but it is not a copy.

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At a glance

Country: Cuba
Location: Havana, Cuba
Built: 1929
Height: 92 m
Type: Government building

Quick answers

Where is El Capitolio?

El Capitolio is in Havana, Cuba.

When was El Capitolio built?

El Capitolio was built in 1929.

How tall is El Capitolio?

El Capitolio is about 92 m tall.

A domed former parliament building in central Havana, reminiscent of the U.S. Capitol.

It was ordered by President Gerardo Machado and built from 1926 to 1929. For decades after that it was the tallest building in Havana, and its dome rises almost 92 meters. It was built on land that used to be a railway terminal. The building held Cuba's government for a long time, and today visitors can admire its halls, its columns and its famous dome.

How was it built?

The project started in April 1926, and more than 5,000 workers needed about three years to finish it. The cost was around 17 million US dollars. The building is 207 meters long and 91 meters wide. Its dome is covered in stone around a steel frame made in the United States. The architect said he took ideas for the dome from the Panthéon in Paris. When it was finished, it had one of the highest domes in the world, and it stayed the tallest point in Havana until 1956.

What can you see there?

A broad staircase of 55 steps leads up to the entrance, guarded by two statues about 6.5 meters tall: Work and The Tutelary Virtue. Inside, under the dome, stands a statue of the Republic, which is described as the third largest indoor statue in the world. The floor holds the starting point from which distances on Cuba's roads are measured. A long renovation of the dome ended in August 2019.

Fun facts

The point from which all road distances in Cuba are measured is set in its floor.
Its dome was the highest point in Havana until 1956.
More than 5,000 workers built it in about three years.
The statue inside is the third largest indoor statue in the world.