El Capitolio, Capitol building in Centro Habana, Havana, Cuba
El Capitolio is a neoclassical government building in Centro Habana, Cuba, now serving as the seat of the Academy of Sciences. The dome-crowned structure rises above a wide staircase and displays a row of columns across the main facade along with pale limestone surfaces that give it its bright appearance.
Construction began in 1926 under President Gerardo Machado and ended three years later after intensive work by thousands of workers. The building first housed the Congress before taking on other roles after the Revolution.
The Salón de Pasos Perdidos, or Hall of Lost Steps, is named for the echo of footsteps on its inlaid marble floor. It leads to the two semicircular chambers that formerly housed the Parliament and Chamber of Deputies. The halls are lit by gilded lamps, and a range of different lamps is seen throughout the building.
The main entrance is reached by La Escalinata, 55 steps flanked by Angelo Zanelli's 6.5-metre statues Work and The Tutelary Virtue. The building sits in La Habana Vieja, bounded by the Paseo de Martí to the east and the streets San José, Industria and Dragones. The surrounding esplanade and gardens, laid out with lawns and royal palms, allow a circuit of the exterior.
A diamond beneath the dome marks the starting point for all road measurements across the island. The gem is said to have once belonged to Tsar Nicholas II before finding its way to Cuba through winding paths.
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