CubaPLUS Magazine

One of the most renowned spaces of the famous National Capitol building, today the seat of the Cuban Parliament, is the Hall of the Lost Steps, where the imposing La República Statue rises and the place that marks the no less mentioned Kilometer Zero of the country, markedin that room with an expensive diamond in its inaugural period, later changed by a replica, due to very many security reasons.

Well, it turns out that the diamond, supposedly protected by a high-security system, was notified as missing at seven in the morning on March 25, 1946 by the watchman Enrique Mena, after the changing of the guard.The unprecedented event was not only that this t25-carat jewel, which is said to have belonged to Nicholas II, the last Zar of Russia, had been embedded before it was introduced into its niche in a block of andesite, valued as the mosthard in the world.  It was reinforced by concrete that contributed to make the anchorage of the base stronger within the floor.

That diamond, which marked the symbolic beginning of all the roads or highways on the Island, was visible through a protective glass considered unbreakable and looked admirable from the center of the room, almost at the foot of the colossal statue of La República, 17 meters highand one of the three most impressive that the Capitol has.The others symbolize Virtue and Work.

Returning to the thread, the incredible thing about this story is that regardless of the scandal caused by that news, it was never possible to find out who was or were the thieves of the valuable jewel, which mysteriously reappeared 15 months later on the table of the President of the Republic.The legendary zero kilometer is marked from the "return" by a substitute without real value, as the symbolic one.It is still placed on a circle carved in bronze and surrounded by an octagonal star made of marble of different shades indicating the four cardinal points.Other information of interest is that the dome has the shields of the former six provinces of Cuba, and from this emblematic site you can access the doors that lead to the halls and galleries.

The luxury and pageantry of the Hall of the Lost Steps correspond to the unhealthy airs of the dictator Gerardo Machado, who in power since 1925 ordered the construction of the luxurious Capitol, which inspired by classical Roman art responded to hisblind admiration for the great building with that style built in the United States, under whose orders he led the destinies of Cuba.

Finally, quality work was done and the result was a work with undeniable artistic values, although very expensive at the time. It was ordered to be built by one of the most sadly remembered dictators in Cuba.