The huge cemetery of Havana is a real collection of architectural masterpieces. The history of the cemetery began in the middle of the 19th century, when the governor of Cuba, Marquez de la Pezuela, proposed in 1854 to build a new cemetery with the aim of making it the main religious building in Havana for the whole century. The cemetery was designed by the architect Calisto de Loira and started functioning in 1872.
The territory of the cemetery has an even rectangular shape, so all the streets and sidewalks are laid quite clearly here, which makes visiting the cemetery more convenient. On Sementerio del Colon, you can see stunning works by Liberty Island artists of the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as enjoy the splendor of the sculptural ensemble, which, in essence, is a cemetery. The majestic central portal, designed in the Romanesque style and designed by de Loira himself, is adorned with a wonderful statue of Faith, Hope and Mercy by the sculptor José Vivalta de Saavedra. On the main street of the cemetery, next to the chapel, there is a small square named after Christopher Columbus, since it was planned to transfer the remains of the famous Genoese here. This never happened, but here in 1828 the first monument to Columbus in the Americas was erected.