Hemingway’s pet cemetery at his beloved home at Finca Vigia, Cuba
A Bike Ride to Ernest Hemingway’s Finca Vigia
In November 2022, an old friend and I rented bikes from a local, family-owned shop called Ruta Bikes and embarked on a 25-kilometer ride from Havana to the quaint town of San Francisco de Paula. Our destination was the legendary home of Ernest Hemingway, a place he lovingly called Finca Vigia, or “Lookout Farm.”
Strolling through the stunning fifteen-acre estate that Hemingway called home from 1939 to 1960, I discovered a touching detail—the graves of four of his dogs nestled between the swimming pool and his beloved fishing boat, El Pilar.
These weren’t fancy or exotic breeds. Instead, they were hearty “Heinz 57” types. Black—a Springer mix rescued as a stray near the property—held the special honour of being Hemingway’s favourite. Alongside Black rested Linda, Negrita, and Neron, each with their own stories, all sharing the villa’s grounds with dozens of cats bearing colourful names like “Crazy Christian” and “Black Spade.”
Finca Vigia wasn’t just a home; it was Hemingway’s creative sanctuary, where he penned some of his most iconic works: For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Old Man and the Sea, and A Moveable Feast.
Visiting the property, walking the paths Hemingway once roamed, and standing near his writing desk felt like stepping into the heart of literary history.
Hemingway’s Royal typewriter on his bedroom shelf at Finca Vigia.
Photos of Ernest Hemingway’s home indoors and outdoors.
*all photos taken and owned by Phil Crawford with exception of photo of Ernest Hemingway with Black and his cat and on the El Pilar.
See my related site on Ernest’s home in Toronto, Ontario, Canada while at the Toronto Star.
Ernest Hemingway’s apartment in Toronto while at The Toronto Star
See my related site to another great writer, Herman Melville.
Herman Melville’s novel “Moby Dick” recognized as a literary masterpiece
