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All Cuba Havana Statue of Cecilia Valdes

Statue of Cecilia Valdes

Standing in this historic plaza is a statue representing one of Cuba's most iconic literary characters.

Havana, Cuba

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mwgerard
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Cecilia Valdes   mwgerard / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Down a crooked side street, tucked in the middle of downtown Havana is a quiet, small plaza that sits under the watchful eye of the Iglesia del Santo Angel Custodio.

Near the steps of the church stands a bronze woman in vintage clothing, holding a fan, appearing to have just left the sanctuary. She is Cecilia Valdes, the title heroine of the massively popular book baring her name published during the 19th-century. A famous scene from the book is set in this location. The novel has inspired operas, literary retellings, and a feature film. It has also been considered the most important novel regarding 19th-century Cuba, and has never been out of print in Spanish. 

The plaza itself is also home to several small cafes, making it the perfect place to get a quiet bite to eat.

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Statues Landmarks Fiction

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mwgerard

Published

January 2, 2020

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  • http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=20545&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
Statue of Cecilia Valdes
Cuarteles
Havana
Cuba
23.141924, -82.355632
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