Monument of the Street Person, Havana: Address, Monument of the Street Person Reviews: 4/5
Monument of the Street Person
Monument of the Street Person
4
Full view
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
21 within 3 miles

La Chucheria
48
1.2 mi$ • Contemporary

Restaurante DiVino
149
1.7 mi$$ - $$$ • Latin • International • Cuban

La Galeria
42
1.5 mi$$ - $$$ • Caribbean • Pizza • Fusion

Hotel Raquel - Restaurant
22
1.6 mi$$ - $$$ • Caribbean • Bar • Pub
Restaurante El Condado
3
1.6 miInternational

La Palmita
2
1.7 miCaribbean • Cuban
El Kalifa
2
1.8 miCaribbean • Cuban

Dinos Pizza
20
1.9 mi$ • Pizza
Trattoria
2
2 miItalian

Restaurante El Trébol
3
2 mi
Attractions
32 within 6 miles

Jardin Madre Teresa de Calcuta
24
0 ftGardens

Sculpture Conversation
450
0 ftPoints of Interest & Landmarks

Taller experimental de Grafica
99
2 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks

Central Havana
598
Neighborhoods

Interior Ministry/Ministerio del Interior
528
Government Buildings

Granma Memorial
308
2.7 miMonuments & Statues

Estudio de Pintura Martalena
8
1.7 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks

Museo de Artes Decorativas
75
Speciality Museums • Art Museums

Jardin Botanico Nacional
90
Gardens

Lookout Farm (Finca Vigia)
61
Historic Sites • History Museums
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.0
711 reviews
Excellent
290
Very good
261
Average
149
Poor
9
Terrible
2
Aunt_Tray
Phoenixville, PA197 contributions
Dec 2019 • Friends
The monument of the street person is located in San Francisco de Asís Square. It is a statue of Jose María López Lledín who was known as El Caballero de París ("The Gentleman From Paris"). He was an educated homeless man that enjoyed talking to people about religion, philosophy, etc. It is supposed to be good luck to touch his beard, finger and foot at the same time.
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Butch E
Nashville, TN648 contributions
Feb 2020
People line up to get their picture taken with this statue. But more importantly to touch his finger and whisper into his ear asking for him to grant a wish! He was a very unique character in Havana, that's why the statue is dedicated to him. Who knows, maybe he will grant your wish!
Written February 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Lolly’s Look
New York City, NY12,815 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
The monument of the street person is another statue in Havana with an urban legend. If you you place your foot on his foot, one hand rubbing his beard and one hand holding his finger all at the same time you will have good luck.
Written May 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
tangi1
Elizabeth, NJ786 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
Local legend has it if you place your foot on his foot, one hand rubbing his beard and one hand holding his finger all at the same time you will have good luck. We saw a lot of people doing some variation of this and they were all laughing and having fun. It is located on the plaza directly across from the cruise ship terminal.
Written May 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Ilene K
Lakeland, FL270 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
The locals believe if you touch his beard and his finger, you will have good luck. His finger is almost worn too thin. Who knows? It's a fun thing to do.
Written April 25, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jackie B
Orlando, FL60 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
It is nice when you are on a tour, and get the whole story. This is a statue of a gentleman who lived on the streets, but was kind and gracious to everyone and was honored with this statue after he passed. People make a wish on the statue by placing one foot on top of his foot and hold his beard in one hand and his hand in the other. It's kind of nice to just watch people approach the statue and make their wishes.
Written April 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Fred Q
Seattle, WA139 contributions
Apr 2019 • Friends
you must put your right foot on his left foot, hold his left hand and his beard for good luck. This is a popular spot as is evidenced by the shine on these parts.
Written April 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
michael_trz
Vancouver, Canada46 contributions
Mar 2019 • Solo
It's a monument. It's a monument of an eccentric person. A lot of people touch it. They do it because other people touch it. I won't mention the hygienic aspect, but there's really nothing special about the monument. You might like the history of the man this monument represents, but you don't need to pay attention (let alone touch) the monument.
Written March 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Russ Lacuata
Long Beach, CA8,486 contributions
Mar 2019 • Friends
Pay tribute to one of Havana's most prominent characters at Monument of the Street Person. The statue commemorates Jose Maria Lopez Lledin, one of the city's well known street people, famed for wandering around Havana and earning the nickname "El Caballero de Paris" - a reference to his affinity for all things French. Born in Spain, before being sent to Cuba to work with his uncle. Following his incarceration in 1920, his offbeat life in Havana began. Local custom holds that you should rub his beard for good luck. Located at the Plaza de San Francisco de Asis.
Written March 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Aury De Jesus
Carolina, Puerto Rico1,537 contributions
Jan 2019 • Friends
Last January 2019, my friend and I was watching on Cuban television a documentary about the gentleman of Paris. It seemed a great sad story. We decided to go to Plaza Vieja to see the statue.
His name was Jose Maria Lopez Lledin, born in Spain and arrived in Havana in 1913.
The people labeled him crazy and vagabond but really his story is different.
He used to sit on a bench in the Paseo del Prado to get together with other comrades to exchange poems and stories. He was educated and intelligent.
Then in 1920, the police falsely accused him of crimes he did not commit. That experience in jail deteriorated him physically and mentally. Thus began to wander the Havana dressed in black, log hair accompanied with papers of poems.
Contrary to what people say, those who knew him indicated that he did not ask for alms, but if they gave him money he gave something in return: pencils tied with colored threads or whatever he had. At the time of the Revolution he stopped giving pencils and their appearance deteriorated. He was dirty, melancholic, barely fed and slept in a flowerbed.
In 1977 he was institutionalized in a psychiatric hospital named La Mazorra as a humanitarian act due to his state of deterioration. In the hospital they stabilized him.
The last psychiatrist who attended him, Dr. Luis Calzada wrote the book" El Caballero de Paris". It has biographical data, interviews with relatives and acquaintances and data on their emotional state.
The diagnosis was paraphrenia a kind of squizophrenia. He died on July 11, 1985. He was 86 years old.
I liked to delve into the history of his life.
I would like that people do not judge without knowing the true story of this human being.
His name was Jose Maria Lopez Lledin, born in Spain and arrived in Havana in 1913.
The people labeled him crazy and vagabond but really his story is different.
He used to sit on a bench in the Paseo del Prado to get together with other comrades to exchange poems and stories. He was educated and intelligent.
Then in 1920, the police falsely accused him of crimes he did not commit. That experience in jail deteriorated him physically and mentally. Thus began to wander the Havana dressed in black, log hair accompanied with papers of poems.
Contrary to what people say, those who knew him indicated that he did not ask for alms, but if they gave him money he gave something in return: pencils tied with colored threads or whatever he had. At the time of the Revolution he stopped giving pencils and their appearance deteriorated. He was dirty, melancholic, barely fed and slept in a flowerbed.
In 1977 he was institutionalized in a psychiatric hospital named La Mazorra as a humanitarian act due to his state of deterioration. In the hospital they stabilized him.
The last psychiatrist who attended him, Dr. Luis Calzada wrote the book" El Caballero de Paris". It has biographical data, interviews with relatives and acquaintances and data on their emotional state.
The diagnosis was paraphrenia a kind of squizophrenia. He died on July 11, 1985. He was 86 years old.
I liked to delve into the history of his life.
I would like that people do not judge without knowing the true story of this human being.
Written March 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Welche geschichte steckt hinter dieser Statue
Suziefrisette_10
Québec (ville), Canada43 contributions
Jose Maria lopez Lledin était un élégant vagabond Espagnol errant dans les rues de La Havane au début des années 1900. Il est connu aussi sous le nom de El Caballero de Paris.
steve190263
Aylesbury, UK4 contributions
what is the best currency to use in Havanna
Honora
Ireland52 contributions
Tourists should only use the official pesos. These can only be bought once you are in the country and it is better to buy with euros or sterling as the exchange rate for US dollars is subject to a 10% surcharge. Credit cards are not widely used - cash is king.
what cruise ships go to cuba
Leo J
New Bedford, MA57 contributions
Actually there many that go there. Among the lines that offer Havana as a port stop now are Fred.Olsen Cruises, Thomson Cruises, Variety Cruises, Noble Caledonia, Viking Cruises, and Star Clippers to name a few. You can check them out online for prices and sailing dates. Hope this helps.
Frequently Asked Questions about Monument of the Street Person
- Hotels near Monument of the Street Person:
- (0.00 mi) Casa Elio
- (0.29 mi) Hostel Las Brujas
- (4.11 mi) La Villa Teresa
- (3.42 mi) La Casa Amador
- (3.69 mi) Hostel Dona Amalia
- Restaurants near Monument of the Street Person:
- (3.18 mi) Creperie Oasis Nelva
- (6.00 mi) Buenaventura
- (7.46 mi) Sensacioones Restaurant
- (6.81 mi) Mojito-Mojito
- (6.97 mi) Paladar Los Mercaderes