Plaza Vieja stands out as an eclectic square defined by its collection of colorful colonial facades, where Cuban baroque buildings sit alongside structures influenced by Art Nouveau. Originally laid out in fifteen fifty-nine and first…
Essential Havana
This walk charts Havana's evolution from its 16th-century colonial plazas to the bold monumental architecture of the 20th century, ending at a vibrant modern art hub.
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1. Plaza Vieja
2. Plaza de Armas
Plaza de Armas is a shaded park surrounded by historic colonial buildings in the heart of Old Havana. Laid out in the early sixteenth century, it began as the Plaza de la Iglesia, named for the parish church that once occupied its site. By…
3. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary is easily recognized by its two asymmetrical bell towers, which give its facade a unique, uneven silhouette against the sky of Old Havana. Built primarily from coral stone…
4. National Capitol of Cuba
The National Capitol of Cuba dominates the Havana skyline with a massive, ninety-two-meter dome that sits atop a wide granite staircase. Commissioned by President Gerardo Machado and completed in nineteen twenty-nine, the building replaced…
5. Hotel Nacional de Cuba
The Hotel Nacional de Cuba is recognized by the two massive turrets that loom over its entrance and its position on the high Taganana Hill. Opened in nineteen thirty, the building occupies the site of the former eighteenth-century Santa…
6. José Martí Memorial.
The José Martí Memorial is defined by its one hundred and nine-meter tower, which is shaped like a five-pointed star and encased in grey marble. Completed in nineteen fifty-eight, it rises above the Plaza de la Revolución to honor the…
7. Cristóbal Colón Cemetery
The Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón, or Christopher Columbus Cemetery, spans one hundred and forty acres in the Vedado neighborhood of Havana. It is defined by a rigid, orderly grid of streets and avenues that mimic the layout of a living…
8. Cuban Art Factory
The Cuban Art Factory, or F.A.C., is defined by the massive brick chimney rising above the Vedado neighborhood. This tall, soot-stained stack once served an oil refining plant, but today it marks the site of a sprawling, multi-level…