Parque Central

The camera stands on the open paving of Parque Central, a few paces from the white marble monument to Jose Marti that gives the square its centre - a standing figure on a tall plinth, carved in 1905 and the first Marti statue put up in Cuba. Behind it rises the Gran Teatro de La Habana, an eclectic pile of columns, balconies and sculpted groups with towers at its corners, and beside that the row of hotels and colonial facades that line this side of the square. Royal palms are planted right around the edge, tall and bare-trunked, so most of the sky at the horizon is broken by them. The ground is pale stone, worn, and busy at any hour.

Havana, Cuba was founded in 1515 by the Spanish conquistador, Diego Velazquez de Cuellar. Originally situated on Cuba's southern coast, it was moved to its present location on the island's north coast by 1519. Havana quickly established itself as a major hub of the Americas and became the most important port in Spain's colonial empire. In the early 1700s, the only cities in the Americas that were larger than Havana were Mexico City and Lima. In subsequent centuries, Havana continued to grow, but the growth came to a rather abrupt end in the wake of the 1959 Revolution. Decay and decomposition followed, plaguing many of Havana's historic buildings. Most of the major tourist attractions have been restored, however, especially in the UNESCO World Heritage Site area that is La Habana Vieja, or Old Havana.

Things to do in Havana General sightseeing is one of the most popular things to do in Havana, Cuba. Among the best places to take in the sights is the Old Havana district. The pedestrian-only Calle Obispo is the ideal boulevard for walking tours in this historic district, especially since it links to such attraction-laden areas as Parque Central and the Plaza de Armas. Also not to be overlooked when planning Havana walking tours is the city's famous Malecon. An oceanside pedestrian walkway, the Havana Malecon stretches from the Castillo de San Salvador to the Almendares River. That's a distance of approximately four miles. Common sights along the Malecon include historic buildings, children swimming off coral outcroppings, fishermen, entwined lovers, and groups of revelers. As a side note, don't be surprised if you see a lot of old American cars while sightseeing in Havana. All told, there are an estimated 60,000 pre-1960 American cars in Cuba, and many of these old rides are found in and around the capital.

Havana Museums One of the best ways to get in touch with a city or country is by visiting its museums. In Havana, Cuba, one of the more notable museums is the National Fine Arts Museum. Among this institution's main calling cards is its extensive collection of Cuban art and sculpture. Complementing this is a high quality international art collection. Other standouts among the Havana Museums include the Museum of the City and the Museum of the Revolution. The Museum of the City is housed in a beautiful building that was formerly the seat of Cuba's government for more than 100 years. Its displays revolve around colonial-era relics and artifacts. The Museum of the Revolution calls the former Presidential Palace home. Among its main features is Granma - the 59-foot motor launch that carried Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, and 80 other revolutionaries to Cuba in 1956. About 10 miles east of Havana at Finca la Vigia is just one more museum that Havana visitors might take an interest in - the Ernest Hemingway Museum.

Hotels and Lodging in Havana Lodging is in good supply in Havana and comes largely in the form of state-run chain hotels and casas particulares. Casas particulares are private rooms for rent. Since Havana is relatively compact, the neighborhood that you choose to stay in shouldn't be a limiting factor. Most tourists wish to spend the bulk of their time exploring Old Havana, however, in which case the Old Havana accommodations and the accommodations in nearby Centro Havana are very popular.