After five years of intensive restoration work, the Oficina del Historiador de La Habana (OHCH) has officially inaugurated the Santa Clara College for Arts and Restoration Crafts of Cuba and the Caribbean, housed within the restored spaces of the Convent of Santa Clara, the largest and oldest monastic building in Havana. The restoration was supported by €4.5 million in funding from the European Union, with technical assistance from UNESCO through the Transcultura Programme: Integrating Cuba, the Caribbean and the European Union through Culture and Creativity (2020–2025), along with €1.3 million from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) through the project “Santa Clara College: Restoration and Enhancement of the Monumental Complex of the Former Convent of Santa Clara”, implemented by the Italo-Latin American Organization (IILA).
Covering over 12,300 square meters across three city blocks in the heart of the World Heritage Site “Old Havana and its System of Fortifications,” the convent features one of the largest wooden roofs in Latin America and Havana’s oldest water fountain. More than 600 tons of materials—including wood, varnishes and resins, mortar, electrical and plumbing systems, flooring, elevators, furniture, and technological equipment—were used to restore this iconic building’s heritage while adapting it to its new educational function.
As part of the collaboration between the Italian cooperation system (through AICS and IILA) and the OHCH—focused primarily on restoring the Aula Magna—the Italian Ambassador to Cuba, Roberto Vellano, expressed his pride in supporting the restoration and creation of the Santa Clara College. He noted that “the restoration, though still ongoing, has overcome many challenges thanks to the dedication and expertise of all the partners involved.”
Santa Clara College is part of the Caribbean Cultural Training Hub, created under the Transcultura Programme to promote training and strengthen youth professionalization in the cultural and creative sectors as a driver of sustainable development across the Caribbean.
As part of this partnership, and following an assessment of regional training needs, a range of specialized courses has been designed. Both Transcultura and the Italian Cooperation project also support the international positioning of the College. Integrated into the Master Plan for the Integrated Revitalization of Old Havana, Santa Clara College will also offer specialized technical restoration services and promote cultural and business tourism to ensure its sustainability. The project also includes activities for residents in surrounding neighborhoods, aiming to foster heritage awareness and access to culture among local citizens.
