Eusebio Leal


Eusebio Leal Spengler was a Cuban historian. He was the Havana City Historian, director of the restoration program of Old Havana and its historical center, UNESCO World Heritage Site. He also wrote books and presented television programs about the city and its history.

City Historian

Leal realised that the Cuban state could not fund the restoration of the Old Havana directly, and persuaded Fidel Castro to pass part of the profits from commercial businesses set up in the area to fund the restoration. For that purpose, he had set up several companies including Habaguanex S.A., which owned hotels and restaurants.
A friend of late Cuban leader Fidel Castro, Leal preferred to identify himself as a "Fidelist" rather than a Marxist. The succesful revitalization effort, and the broad powers given to him by the government, resulted in Leal becoming the de facto mayor of Old Havana. Leal was also a member of the ruling Cuban Communist Party's elite Central Committee and came to be seen as an elder statesman of Cuba.
He was President of the Commission of Monuments in the City of Havana and a specialist in Archeological Sciences.

Other positions

Leal served as Deputy to the National Assembly of the Popular Power in the IV, V and VI Legislature, Ambassador of Good Will of the United Nations, the University of Havana and had a Masters degree in Latin American, Caribbean, and Cuban Studies.

Personal life

His son, Javier Leal, runs a travel agency and an art gallery in Barcelona, Spain.

Academic studies

Academic studies:
Member of:
Academic activity:

Honours

Various awards: