Palacio del Segundo Cabo, Baroque government palace in Plaza de Armas, Havana, Cuba.
The Palacio del Segundo Cabo is a baroque government building located at Plaza de Armas in Havana, featuring semicircular arches supported by pillars and columns throughout its facade. Inside, a vertical central courtyard illuminated by French shutters brings light to both floors and defines the interior layout.
The structure was built in the second half of the 1700s as the official residence of the Segundo Cabo, a key administrative position under Spanish colonial rule. Between 1770 and 1791 it served as Havana's main post office, reflecting the city's role as a crucial communication link between Europe and Latin America.
The palace now functions as a Center for Interpretation of Cultural Relations, where visitors encounter exhibits exploring the historical connections between Cuba and Europe through interactive displays and contemporary presentations.
The building sits on O'Reilly Street at number 4 and is easily reached on foot since it stands near other historical attractions around Plaza de Armas. Two floors of exhibition space are arranged with modern displays, making it straightforward to navigate and view the changing shows at a comfortable pace.
The structure incorporates early iron support elements rather than traditional wood construction, representing an architectural innovation in colonial Cuban building methods. This engineering approach allowed for more open interior spaces and demonstrated European construction influences in the Spanish colony.
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