The Houses of Old Cuba

From the indigenous bohaos (simple huts) to sumptuous Neoclassical villas, from the grand palaces of the Spanish occupation to luxurious quintas (country mansions), all the secrets and enchantments of Cuban life, past and present, remain intact today in the dwellings of towns such as Havana, Camag?ey, and Santiago de Cuba, and in the countryside. This beautifully illustrated book reveals a Cuban architectural heritage that is often ignored or hidden from an outsider's eyes. Drawing upon local archives, museum records, memoirs, diaries, and other native sources, Llilian Llanes describes Cuba's architectural history from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century. The evolution of Cuban architecture, influenced by climate and by social conditions, parallels the cultural, political, and economic history of the island, and the houses and their decoration reflect periods of greater or lesser prosperity, as well as social inequalities. Courtyards, balconies, galleries, balustrades, grilles, and louvered doors: the evocative photographs, all in color, illustrate the subject magnificently with exterior and interior views plus closeups of details. Extended captions explain the development of architectural features and the houses themselves over centuries and provide fascinating details of Cuban daily life, customs, and pastimes.