Finca La Luisa

Located on the outskirts of

Havana, these ruins are all that remains of what was once a luxurious mansion at the beginning of the 20th century. It belonged to José Manuel Cortina García, a prominent Cuban lawyer, politician and diplomat, recognized at the time for being an excellent speaker.

After Fidel Castro rose to power, he confiscated properties from many of Cuba’s wealthy, land-owning elite, including this one. García fled the country and settled down in Miami, where he lived out the rest of his days. The grand home, which drew architectural inspiration from Renaissance-era Italian palazzos, gradually fell into disrepair.