Plaza de la Revolucion

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Plaza de la Revolucion (= Revolution Square) is a municipality and a square in Havana, Cuba. The municipality stretches from the square down to the sea at the Malecon and includes the Vedado district.

The square is notable as being where many political rallies take place and Fidel Castro and other political figures address Cubans. Fidel Castro has addressed more than a million Cubans on many important occasions, such as 1 May and 26 July each year.

The square is dominated by a large monument to José Martí (see picture) with a 426^{[citation needed]} foot tall tower and a smaller statue. The National Library,^{[citation needed]} National Theater, many government ministries, and other buildings are located in and around the the Plaza. Located behind the memorial are the closely guarded offices of President Castro. Opposite the memorial on the far side of the square is the famous Che Guevara image with the slogan 'Hasta la Victoria Siempre' (Forever Onwards Towards Victory) that identifies the Ministry of the Interior building.

This square and the memorial were built before 1959 (the year Fidel Castro came to power). It was originally called Plaza Civica (Civic Square). After the Cuban Revolution (1959), it was renamed "Plaza de la Revolucion" or "Revolution Square." An elevator takes you to the top of the memorial, which at its 138 feet high^{[citation needed]}, is the tallest building in the city.^{[citation needed]}