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…
Historic Plazas of Havana
This walk showcases the civic, religious, and military history of Old Havana through its beautifully preserved colonial squares and Spanish fortifications.
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1. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
2. Havana Castle Of The Royal Force
The Castillo de la Real Fuerza is a square, stone fortress bordered by a moat, distinguished by a watchtower crowned with a bronze weathervane shaped like a woman. Known as La Giraldilla, this statue depicts a figure gazing toward the…
3. 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…
4. Palacio de los Capitanes Generales
The Palacio de los Capitanes Generales occupies the eastern side of the Plaza de Armas in Old Havana, defined by its square proportions and colonial baroque architecture. Built between seventeen seventy-six and seventeen ninety-two, the…
5. Saint Francis of Assisi Plaza
Plaza de San Francisco de Asís is defined by its uneven cobblestone surface and its proximity to the Havana harbor, where Spanish galleons once docked during the colonial era. Created on June second, sixteen twenty-eight, this square takes…
6. Plaza Vieja
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…