El Paseo de la Alameda Michaelson, or just La Alameda like it is called by the inhabitants of Santiago de Cuba, is an area with a longitudinal park, located in front of the port, extending along the street named Jesus Menéndez. It extends from the street Calixto García to the street Aguilera as a walk of about 400 meters.

It was built as a walk in 1859 and was named Avenida Téllez, in honor to the governor Don Juan Téllez. With its central fountain, trees and gates it became a dockside promenade and amusement place for every age and, also a favorite place for the young ladies and the gentlemen that walk around in their cars or on foot by showing up their new dresses and hats.

La Alameda underwent several renovations; the first one was in 1893, sponsored by the benefactor German Hermann F.W. Michaelson. Therefore, the street takes its current name from this personage (La Alameda de Michaelsen). Towards 1920s La Alameda lost its popularity day by day and dilapidated, so that a thorough reconstruction was necessary that occurred in 1929. The clock tower of the Alameda (La Torre de Arnaz, as it was originally called in honor of the mayor Desidereio Arnaz that carried out the project) and two welcome arches were installed at this date. Today the image of La Alameda is the consequence of the project executed by the mayor Luis Casero Guillén between 1949 and 1951.

It is a wide boardwalk in the style of Havana’s Malecón with a quiet park below the Tivolí quarter. It is still a place of preference of the population that looks for the fresh breeze and the seascape. You can sit in the park that has a vast-planted square, and watch the Cuban families have a drink or meal or catch the little ferry to Granma Island. The north end features the old clock tower, the customs house (aduana), the cigar factory and the brewpub Cervecería Puerto del Rey. Memorial monuments that were erected to the memory of Germán Michaelsen and José Martí, can be seen in the area.