Havana, Cuba.- The co-president of the international corporation Habanos S.A., Inocencio Nuñez, awarded Wednesday for the first time the Special Prize of his company to the Havana Historian Eusebio Leal Spengler.

This prize consisted of a silver trophy simulating a medieval knight in a stylized manner smoking cigars on a granite platform, a figure created by the Cuban sculptor Raul Valladares.

It is the same piece as the one awarded at the end of the Habano Festival to the winners of the Habano of the Year awards in the Production, Business and Communication categories.

This recognition, given since 1995, stimulates the world-wide promotion of Cuban cigars and is received by local and foreign celebrities.

This award recognizes the work of Leal Spengler in the diffusion of Cuban culture and the hard work for the rescue of Havana, which celebrates this 2019 its 500 years of foundation (November 16).

This Special Prize is awarded for the first time, even outside the closing ceremony, to a cultural personality and promoter of Havana cigars, Premium cigars or handmade cigars from this country.

Leal has received a series of international recognitions that highlight his efforts to spread the traditions of this nation, including cigars.

Precisely, the historian was in charge of the first talk of the International Seminar as part of the 21st Habano Festival (February 18-22, Convention Palace) attended by 2,200 people from 70 countries.