There is in Havana’s neighborhood of Mantilla, in the municipality of Arroyo Naranjo, a unique monument dedicated to the Apostle of Cuban independence José Martí, an enclave also called Chinese Pagoda, not without some contradiction, for some of its architectural qualities.
But its most famous name is Mantilla Viewpoint. There, a bust of the National Hero stands tall over a 22-meter-high building or family home. The sculpture, first made of plaster and later changed to a concrete one in a general renovation carried out in 2001, measures 7.5 meters, with its head facing the sunrise.
It was the best way to honor the great Cuban patrician, founded by the owner of the property, built in 1958. The house in question, which was gaining height until reaching 7 floors, continues to house descendants of the family of the owner and manager of the tribute, Andrés Carbonay.
It has served as a Marti Study Center in some of its floors. No one can deny its exceptional character, being one of the most unique buildings in Havana and even in all of Cuba. Experts believe that it is the bust of José Martí located on one of the highest pedestals in the country, surpassed only by the sculpture of Gilma Madera located on Pico Turquino, in the eastern Sierra Maestra.
Another interesting question about Mantilla is that it is one of the few Cuban communities that venerate two patron saints and two traditional dates: Saint Raphael and Virgin of Charity of Copper.
Returning to the Mirador de Mantilla, which ended up looking like a pagoda, with José Martí at its peak, its construction cost 50,000 pesos, a respectable sum in its time. The Office of the City Historian was in charge of restoring the monument, according to what they say, always painted with the colors of the Cuban flag: red, blue and white.
The town of Mantilla is proud of the Viewpoint and also of being the small homeland of writer Leonardo Padura, an internationally renowned novelist who has created a good part of his work in that neighborhoo