Palacio de Valle, Historic house in Punta Gorda, Cienfuegos, Cuba
Palacio de Valle is a historic house in Punta Gorda, Cienfuegos, featuring Moorish architectural elements with ornate tiles, mosaics, detailed carvings, and fine woodwork made from imported materials. Today it functions as a restaurant and terrace bar where visitors can dine while overlooking Cienfuegos Bay.
The building was constructed between 1913 and 1917 by Italian architect Alfredo Colli for Cuban merchant Celestino Caces and later acquired by Acisclo del Valle Blanco. After the Cuban Revolution of 1959, it shifted from its planned role as a casino into a public dining space.
The building displays a mix of Gothic, Byzantine, Mudejar, and Baroque styles, reflecting the architectural experimentation that happened in early 20th-century Cuba. These varied influences are visible in every room and give the place its distinctive character.
The palace is located at Calle 37 between Avenue 0 and Avenue 2 and is easy to reach on foot from downtown. Most visitors find it helpful to come during daytime to see the interior details in natural light before returning later in the evening to dine and enjoy the views.
The building was originally planned as a casino during the Batista era, but this vision was completely abandoned after 1959. This makes the place a reminder of architectural dreams that never came to be and instead gave way to a new purpose.
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