Lying on the border of the old city and Centro Habana, between the Capitolio and the Prado promenade, the Parque Central was designed in 1877 after the old city walls were demolished. A statue of Isabella II was put in the middle of the square but was later replaced by one of José Martí. The park is surrounded by 19th- and 20th-century monumental buildings and adorned with palm trees. The heart of the city centre and a popular meeting place, it is a delightful place for a stroll. Towards evening, when the air is cooler, people gather here to talk until the small hours of the night about baseball, music and politics.