El Capitolio, Cuba

/ el ka.piˈto.ljo / institution /

RE: CUBA, GOVERNANCE, HISTORY, LATIN AMERICA, PARLIAMENT, POLITICS

El Capitolio is a major political and historical building in Havana, Cuba. It was completed in 1929 and originally served as the seat of the Cuban Congress before the 1959 Cuban Revolution. Today, it houses the National Assembly of People’s Power, the main lawmaking body in Cuba’s political system.

The building is famous for its grand design—featuring a massive dome, stone columns, and long staircases—and was modelled after the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., but with local Cuban touches. It was once the tallest structure in Havana and remains a powerful symbol of the country's political heritage.

After years of disuse and careful restoration, El Capitolio has reopened to the public and to lawmakers. It is a working seat of government and also a tourist destination, reflecting both Cuba’s colonial past and socialist present.

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