Best Seller
Want to Run Your Own
My Guide Website?
Find Out More
My Guide Website?
Palace of the Second Cape
The Palace of the Second Cape, also known as Palacio de la Intendencia or Royal Post Office, is located in the north of the Plaza de Armas, next to the Palace of the General Captains, in Old Havana. This majestic palace, like the Palace of the General Captains, is neoclassical in style. Its construction was carried out in 1772, in local limestone, full of cavity and marine limestone inlays.
Its construction was the initiative of the Marquis de la Torre, governor of Cuba, who ordered four large buildings to close the Plaza de Armas, although finally only this building and the Palace of the General Captains were built, which today houses the Museum of the City.
Palace of the Second CapeThe building was initially built as the headquarters of the Spanish vice-governor and after several retrofits it functioned as the Post Office, Senate Palace, Supreme Court, headquarters of the National Academy of Arts and Letters or headquarters of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba.
Attention is drawn to the beautiful arches, located on the porch of its main facade, which look directly at the Plaza de Armas. In the gloomy porch is a magnificent cover and the hallway, which leads to a beautiful Andalusian-style patio with abundant vegetation.
Inside, it is worth mentioning the Raúl Martínez Gallery Room, as it is a magnificent example of pop art. Inside it also houses large offices and ceremonial rooms, very similar to those that can be seen in other colonial buildings.
A curious fact about the Palace of the Second Cape is that it was the first building to officially support the lone star flag.
