Havana - The King of Spain, Felipe VI, and his wife, Queen Letizia, today paid tribute to the National Hero of Cuba, Jose Marti, at the beginning of their activities on their official visit to Cuba.

In the Plaza de la Revolucion, before the huge statue of the hero of Cuba's independence struggle against Spanish colonialism, the royal couple lay a floral wreath in the company of Deputy Foreign Minister Anayansi Rodriguez.

The guests then headed to the State Council of the Republic of Cuba, where President Miguel Diaz-Canel will head an official reception, after which he will hold official talks with Felipe VI.

The royal couple arrived to Havana last night and today will also participate in the inauguration of the photographic exhibition 'España-Cuba, contigo en la distancia' (Spain-Cuba: With you in the distance), allegorical to the relations between both nations, a joint work of the Prensa Latina and EFE news agencies.

According to the program of the visit, before traveling to the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba on Thursday, Felipe VI and Letizia will tour the historic center of this capital, and present Havana City Historian Eusebio Leal with the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III, Grand Cross Breast Star.

They will also tour centers of scientific interest in the capital, and participate in other activities in the context of the celebrations to mark the 500th anniversary of the founding of Havana. In Santiago de Cuba they will pay tribute to the Spanish soldiers who fell in the Spanish-American war, among other activities.