Trading Market is located in front of the San Francisco de Asís square, occupying a small block intercepted by the streets Lamparilla, Baratillo, Oficios and Obrapía. It is a beautiful building inaugurated in the year 1909 from a call in which it was winner the project of the Spanish architect Tomas Mur. An installation constructed of steel beams with mezzanines and reinforced concrete ceilings.

On the first floor it worked as a warehouse and bag, on the second and third floor were the offices of the Lonja, the fourth and fifth floors were rented to importing houses and customs agencies. On the roof is a beautiful dome with a bronze sculpture of God Mercury. He stood in front of the Customs House, where traders' meetings were held to define their business.

In the 90's began the restoration and modernization of La Lonja del Comercio according to international standards, improvement of windows, sanitary services, emergency stairs, galleries, four panoramic elevators were installed and other facilities such as restructuration of interior premises , Opening of cafeteria, bar, multifunctional lounges, restaurant, telecommunications services, air conditioning, lighting, fire detection and intruders through automated services, all this to provide a service of excellence to the firms and companies that have offices in this installation.

In the heart of the Historic Center, it is surrounded by a large number of tourist, recreational, and cultural attractions.

The Minor Basilica of the Convent of San Francisco de Asís, is located in the square that bears his name, in a building from 1738 located in Oficios between Amargura and Churruca, in Old Havana.

Converted The Minor Basilica in a concert hall of great popularity for its magnificent acoustics with presentations of choral and chamber music. The Camerata Romeu and the Festival of Ancient Music of Havana have their permanent headquarters.

The halls and galleries of the former convent house various temporary exhibitions of contemporary Cuban and foreign artists and serve as a stage for conferences, book presentations and national and international events.

On the second floor is the Museum of Sacred Art decorated with religious motifs, especially the Catholic cult with 17th century pieces, paintings, goldsmiths, religious furniture, textiles and ceramic tableware.

It has a bell tower of 12 meters, at that time the highest of its time, from which you can see much of Old Havana.

In nearby terrain, you can enjoy the shade of shrubs in a garden in honor of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, set with sculptural works of contemporary artists was inaugurated there in the year 1999.

The Basilica Minor of the Convent of St. Francis of Assisi opens its doors every day from 09:00 - 18:00.

Museum Details

Typology: Sacred art
Collections: Plastic Arts, Goldsmithing, Decorative Art
Inaugurated: 10/4/1994

During colonial times in Cuba there was what was called the Quitrín, a carriage of horses of indigenous origin, which became the main means of transport to travel the country. It had to be taken into account that the roads had not yet been created, but the paths were practically impassable roads. On board these quitrines were made trips on occasions of several days, with trajectories that crossed plains, hills and hills.

This tradition of horse-drawn cars has always served to measure the popular and traditional idiosyncrasy of the Cuban people. There are several itineraries in Havana for horse riding. One of them is the one that takes us by the famous Malecón, ideal for a romantic stroll in the evening. The view of the sea and the sun falling with its colors on the waters is really idyllic. Without forgetting of course to cross the most special corners of Old Havana. The sound of horses' hooves on the pavement will evoke moments and moments from other times.

The walk through Old Havana will take us to know its main squares, fortresses and other buildings built by the Spanish between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, pass in front of the Capitol, Paseo Martí, Central Park, Revolution Square, Cemetery Christopher Columbus and many other emblematic places in the heart of the city.

To give you a little idea, the price of a horseback ride in Old Havana is 25 dollars per person and a dollar per child. Most of these cars allow a maximum of up to three adults. Usually they are tours of hour and a half of duration, usually. You can also book the ride for some more time, although that is already a matter of arranging it with the calesero.

Not only in Havana is this tradition calesera rooted. There are even cities that this image is its tourist symbol, as it happens to Bayamo, to whom one even sings that of "I want to go to Bayamo at night to walk in its streets at night". Other special places in Cuba for horse riding are the cities of Cienfuegos, Camagüey and Ciego de Avila.

But for a song, as a remembrance of Havana's calesas, which in the voice of Carlos Cano became immortal, the Habaneras of Cadiz ...

"... there were horse-drawn carriages, which was by May ..."