Docomomo US Modern Cuba: Continuity of Past and Present
October 3, 2015 – October 12, 2015
Havana, Cuba - Hotel Capri (8 nights)
Tour Leader: Belmont Freeman
Guest: Eduardo Luis Rodríguez
Docomomo US is pleased to announce registration for our educational travel tour of modern architecture in Havana, Cuba. Experience the rich architectural past of this long elusive Caribbean island located just 90 miles south of U.S. soil. Modern Cuba offers a unique travel opportunity in a small group setting featuring access to modern homes and buildings considered off the beaten path or not ordinarily open to the public.
The ten-day, nine-night trip will be led by architect and scholar, Belmont Freeman, FAIA, with Cuban architect and historian, Eduardo Luis Rodriguez joining the group. Specific sites on the tour include: Club Nautico (1953), Max Borges Recio; the House of Alfred de Schulthess (1956), Richard Neutra; the Jose Ramon Cuervo Residence (1947), designed by Evilio Cervantes; and the National Art Schools (1959-1964), Ricardo Porro, Roberto Gottardi and Vittorio Garratti and many more! Additional stops and unique dining locations from the era will make this a most memorable and rewarding travel experience.
Guests will stay at the wonderful 1957 Hotel Capri that was just recently restored. Hotel Capri, known for its fabulous roof-top swimming pool, was also featured prominently in the opening sequence of the post-revolution film "Soy Cuba."
Taking advantage of the US Treasury Department’s recent amendments to Cuba sanctions, Docomomo US has designed an educational travel program that satisfies the Department’s criteria for “people- to-people” cultural exchange. While the new amendments are encouraging for Americans wishing to visit Cuba, American citizens are not currently permitted to travel to Cuba independently and all travel must be made through one of the few tour companies in the United States to have been awarded a People to People license by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control.
This tour is now at capacity. Please email us at info(at)docomomo-us(dot)org if you would like to receive notification of a second Cuba trip.
Schedule
Day 1: Miami Overnight/Pre-tour introductory briefing.
Independent travel to Miami. Introductory lecture on history of Cuba and its architecture.
Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Miami Airport.
Day 2: Miami / Havana Early morning check-in for our charter flight. Arrive around midday in Havana, where we will be met by our local tour operators for an introductory bus tour of the city.
Accommodations: Capri Hotel. Arrival night dinner at a paladar.
Specific sites/buildings:
Plaza de la Revolución
Castillo del Morro
Day 3: Havana All day walking tour of Old Havana and Las Murallas.
Specific sites/buildings:
Mostly colonial, but emphasize mix of old and 19/20C in the colonial core
Paseo del Prado (early 20C, including great art deco theater)
Bacardí Building; superb art deco
Day 4: Havana Morning walking tour of El Vedado.
Specific sites/buildings:
Colegio de Arquitectos e Ingenieros (Zárraga y Ezquiróz)
La Rampa; Seguro Médico building (Antonio Quintana)
Coppelia (Mario Girona)
Centro Hebraico (Aquiles Capabianca)
Casa de Amistad (Govantes y Cabarrocas, art deco interior by Lalique)
Afternoon bus/walking tour of Nuevo Vedado, Marianao.
Specific sites/buildings:
Houses by Porro, Martinez, Gutierrez (exterior)
Tropicana night club (Max Borges)
Day 5: Havana All day bus tour; Miramar, Playa and western suburbs.Specific sites/buildings:
Eugenio Leal House (Cañas y Abril)
Miguel Gastón house for lunch
Loyola College engineering building
(Manuel Gutiérrez)
Club Naútico (Max Borges)
Ofelia Viamontes House (Frank Martínez) interior visit
The House of Alfred de Schulthess (Richard Neutra) interior visit
Image (right): Club Nautico (1953), Max Borges. Credit: North Carolina State University Library
Day 6: Havana Full day bus and walking tour including Habana del Este, Playas del Este, Matanzas & Varadero.
Specific sites/buildings:
Centro de Investigaciones de la Construcción (Hugo D’Acosta)
Habana del Este (Hugo D’Acosta, Mercedes Álvarez, Ana Vega, Mario González, Julio Baladrón, Roberto Carranza an others.)
El Megano tourist complex (Humberto Alonso)
Marazul Hotel (Mario Girona)
Xanadu -Dupont Mansion (Govantes y Cabarrocaas) for lunch
Varadero Internacional Hotel
Casa de los Cosmonautos (Antonio Quintana)
Day 7: Havana Morning visit to the CUJAE campus. Afternoon visit to the National Art Schools.Image (right): Ciudad Universitária José Antonio Echeverria (1959-1964), with subsequent phases, Humberto Alonso (original conception), Manuel Rubio, José Fernández, Fernando Salinas, Josefina Montalván and others. Image courtesy: Belmont Freeman.
Day 8: Havana.
Morning tour of San Cristóbal Colon Cemetery
Free afternoon
Day 9: Las Terrazas.
Return to Havana early enough for free time
Day 10: Havana / Miami After breakfast depart Cuba for flight home.
Program rate: $5,795 per person, double occupancy
Single Supplement $699 (limited availability)
Rate includes:
- Non-stop round trip flights from Miami to Havana via U.S. Government-licensed charter service including all taxes & fuel surcharges
- U.S. Treasury Department license and letter of authorization
- Cuba Entrance Visa
- Eight (8) nights' superior first class hotel accommodations in Cuba
- Twenty (20) meals: 8 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 4 dinners
- Friendly Planet Representative
- All land transportation, transfers & porterage in Cuba
- 1st night Crowne Plaza Miami Airport Hotel with Pre-tour introductory briefing
- Comprehensive educational exchange program, including entrance fees
- Professional, English-speaking local guide, who will facilitate the educational exchanges with Cubans
- Health insurance in Cuba (mandatory)
$149 - $279 Optional (recommended) comprehensive travel insurance.
Rate does not include:
- Passports
- Items of Personal Nature
- Tips for drivers, guides, or director
- Drinks and meals other than those specifically included
Passenger Deposits
Passenger deposits are $600 per person. Passenger deposits are non-refundable, and cancellation and interruption coverage is strongly recommended in order to protect passengers against cancellation fees.
Final Payments
Final payments are due at 75 days prior to departure. Reservations received after this date will be on a request basis and must be accompanied by payment in full. All passenger payments are subject to the following cancellation schedule. Cancellation of reservations must be made in writing (fax, email or postal mail) and are subject to the following charges:
Cancellation Charges
| Up to 76 days prior to departure | $600 |
| 75 - 46 days prior to departure | $1000 |
| 45 30 days prior to departure | $1700 |
| 29 days prior to depature | No refund |
Image (at top): Escuelas Nacionales de Arte (1959-1964), Ricardo Porro, Roberto Gottardi and Vittorio Garratti. Image: Belmont Freeman