Finca Vigia

Ernest Hemingway bought the Finca Vigía in 1940 and lived there for two decades, writing several books in it, and when he left in 1960 the house was kept as it stood. The contents are still in place: books on every wall, hunting trophies, the typewriter he worked at standing up, bottles in the bar, a bathroom wall on which he recorded his weight. Visitors do not go inside; the windows and doors are opened and you walk around the outside looking in, which works better than it sounds. His boat Pilar stands under a shelter in the garden.

History

The house was built in 1886 by the Catalan architect Miguel Pascual y Baguer, on a hill about 13 kilometres south-east of Havana where the Spanish army had kept a lookout post - the origin of its name, Vigía, "lookout". Its back veranda and the tower beside it look out over central Havana. It later became the home of Ernest Hemingway, and like his house in Key West it is now a museum (Wikipedia, Finca Vigía).

Highlights

• The interior through the windows - rooms left as they were, with books, trophies and the typewriter in place.
• The bathroom wall - his own record of his weight written on the plaster.
• The Pilar - his fishing boat, under a shelter in the grounds.
• The tower and garden - a writing tower, a pool and the graves of his dogs.

When to go

Year-round, though the house closes when it rains because the windows have to be shut, which can end a visit abruptly. Mornings are best and coach parties arrive later. The museum closes on some days of the week.

What to expect

You cannot go inside, which surprises people who came expecting to. Rain closes the windows and the visit becomes pointless, so a wet forecast is a reason to change plans. A camera fee is charged on top of entry.

Nearby

Cojimar, the fishing village he used, is northeast on the coast, and Havana is half an hour northwest.

Key facts