Visit Cuba > Everything Starts in Havana

No, Havana is not a cigar, but a city that takes time to discover. Hundreds of young vendors line the streets offering the renowned Cuban cigars, as well as newspapers, flowers, shoe-shines, knife-sharpening, etc. Since being founded in the 16th century, the city of Havana has certainly been the jewel of New World capitals. It inherited a great deal of Spanish colonial architecture and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982.

With its colorful history and friendly people, Havana is the heart of Cuban political, scientific, and cultural life.  Head to the Plaza de Armas, the heart of old Havana and the city's oldest square, once the capital's administrative and political center, and enjoy the shade of the royal palms and contemplate the baroque façades and arcades of the buildings that surround it. In the center of the square, the garden houses beautiful fountains and a statue of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, a work by Sergio Lopez Mesa created in 1955. During the week, booksellers set up their stalls and offer many rare and original works to delight collectors and antiquaries from around the world.