The O’Reilly street is one of the main streets of Old Havana that connects the Central Park with the Plaza de Armas. Its end is indicated with a gate that constituted one of the entrances of the old city from the area of the bay in the colonial time of the republic.

In 1929, during the project of the reorganization of the Malecón, this monumental access was demolished to expand the O’Reilly street towards the new avenue that would run along the roadstead. Later, the attractive portico was re-erected with a design similar to its original. This replica of the old O'Reilly gate was placed between two buildings. One of these buildings, the Práctico del Puerto, still exists and is renovated. Currently in the place of the second building, there is a small park with the monument dedicated to 77 Cuban sailors that were the victims of the German submarines during the World War II.

Until 1950 tram was passing through this area.

Originally the archway had been made of stone pilasters in square shape, topped by spherical bollards at both sides. During the restoration process the pilasters were made of concrete, and they were veneered by jaimanite stone to resist the erosive effects of the strong winds and rains. The pilasters are connected to each other with a metal beam that supports the metal shield of the city, flanked by two cornucopias. On the shield it is written the date 1856, but in fact, the portico was built in 1852. The original shield is made of wrought iron, and it has a weight of almost 1,5 tons.

The portico had a metal gate that consisted of two wings; unfortunately, they are lacking nowadays. The pilasters are accompanied by symbolic iron fences, less than one meter in width. Originally, they were the extension of the iron fence that surrounds El Templete today, so that the iron gate and the iron fences together were establishing a real entry point to the city that was under control of the officers. Some ornamental elements like two cannons that had been placed on each side of the portico originally, are missing nowadays.

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historical environment

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back view of the gate

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coat of arms of Havana

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monument for Cuban sailors

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front view

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back view

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list of the names of the Cuban sailors

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Localization

The Pórtico de O’Reilly is located on the Malecón, in front of the Castillo de la Real Fuerza and the Plaza de Armas, at the end of the O’Reilly street.