Cuba1997

Of all of Cuba's important cultural assets, none speaks more eloquently of its history and evolution than its architecture. Like the country itself, Cuban architecture, with its distinct but difficult-to-define Cuban spirit, defies easy categorization. Spanning four centuries, this remarkable built legacy has been preserved largely through benign neglect, and so the island today serves as a rare archive of Caribbean architectural history waiting to be rediscovered. Author Rachel Carley's incisive, illuminating text traces the island's architectural developments and achievements - from Indian bohfos, early colonial fortification systems, and Mudejar craftsmanship to baroque churches, classically inspired civic buildings, ambitious modernist designs, and the present-day interest in preservation. Architectural treasures located throughout Cuba are vividly documented in photographer Andrea Brizzi's lush color images, transporting us - if only momentarily - to all corners of this diverse tropical land.