2-612-941 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Church and convent of Belen. The massive Convent and Church located in Old Havana was begun in 1712 completed in 1718. Construction finances were seeded by a posthumous grant from Bishop Diego Evelino Hurtado de Compostela (1638-1704) of Santiago de Cuba with the balance of funds raised from alms. Originally the convent was run as a convalescent home and poor house. Jesuits enlarged the Convent to its present size. Cigar card from the History of Cuba, Geografico Universal, Propaganda de los Cigarros Susini y La Corona, Tabacalera Cubana.