Enjoyment of the Cuban Modern Heritage: an innovative cultural visitors route to connect the UNESCO site of Old Havana to the National Schools of Art

The UNESCO site of Old Havana and its colonial defensive system is located in the middle of the current Havana´s administrative borders and includes an interesting mix of baroque and neoclassical monuments. On the other hand, in the western end there are the National Schools of Art currently nominated for UNESCO’s WHL. They constitute outstanding examples of Cuban Modern architecture. Between these two sites more than 50 buildings built during the 20th century merit the enhancement of its acknowledgement as significant examples of the Cuban Modern Heritage. Based on this situation the paper proposes a methodology conceived to constitute open-air museums. The purpose is twofold: capturing the economic value of a selection of emblematic buildings and promoting forms for their direct and indirect enjoyment. The proposed methodology aims to generate stakeholders’ involvement strategies that can promote a new kind of “cultural tourism” through the guiding principles of inclusion, transparency and feasibility. The result is a participatory process to design a cultural visitors route able to extend and diversify the potential visitor targets and destinations. As a result an innovative cultural visitors route connecting Havana´s Modern Heritage and the old city center is produced. This project can represent a real opportunity for Cuba that is living a phase of transformation, probably a crucial historical period that might positively foster many opportunities at urban level