Cuba

One of Havana’s great love stories contains sand from the Nile.

Catalina Lasa was married when she fell in love with wealthy landowner Juan Pedro Baró. Their relationship caused a scandal in Havana society. The couple left Cuba, obtained a Church annulment of her earlier marriage, and were later able to return after divorce became legal.

Baró then had a palace built for Catalina in Vedado. Marble came from Carrara, craftsmen from Europe – and sand from the banks of the Nile in Egypt was used in the house.

A love story that literally brought material from the other side of the world to Havana.