El Capitolio, the Cuban Capitol building, is a large domed building, located on Prado street, on the border of Old Havana and Central Havana. It was modeled after the American Capitol building in Washington D.C. The large manicured campus directly beside the Capitolio building is called the Parque Central. Just north of the Capitolio you will notice the Gran Teatro de La Habana, which is one of the most ornately designed buildings in Havana and where the national ballet performs. The Capitolio is an important landmark for orienting yourself in the city. The building faces east and everything in front of it is Old Havana. The neighborhood of Central Havana starts west of the building (behind it). The area around the Capitolio, acts as a central traffic hub for the city. Communal taxis coming into the city, or driving to the outskirts, almost always stop on Prado street, in front of the Capitolio building, and it often acts as either the beginning or end of their route.

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