Thousands of Cubans Pay Tribute to Fidel Castro in Havana

Thousands of people have been marching up Monday the Revolution Square in Havana to pay tribute to Fidel Castro in Havana.

The funerals and the official mourning will stretch out for nine days. The ceremony will include a caravan with the ashes of former President Fidel Castro all across the island nation, all the way to its final resting place at the Santa Efigenia Cemetery in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba.

Scores of tourists have also been drawn by Fidel Castro’s funeral and many of them have also walked all the way to the Revolution Square to honor the larger-than-life revolutionary leader who passed away last Friday at the age of 90.

The Revolution Square is no doubt one of Havana’s most sought-after landmarks. Its significance accrued dramatically following the 1959 revolution when it became home to massive rallies and demonstrations headed by Fidel Castro himself.

The Revolution Square is also home to the Jose Marti Memorial, a 138-meter-high obelisk that ranks by far as the highest point in the city of Havana.

Several ministries are headquartered around the Revolution Square, such as Defense, Communications, Construction and Economy. Also in the vicinity, the buildings that harbor the National Library and the National Theater stand out.