Havana - Cuba's World Heritage Capital

, Havana's Diva-like splendour is being chipped awayof his novels were written here. He was locally
by the ravages of time. UNESCO has declared oldfamous for downing a glass or two and smoking a
Havana a world heritage site and funds begin to flowthick Havana cigar. The long Cuban party ended on
into projects all over the city, but work has only justNew Year's Eve in 1959, when rebels under the
started.command of Fidel Castro marched into the city.
Havana is a grid-plan city, making it easy to navigateThere are still nightclubs in, modern-day Havana, once
its broad avenues and side streets, originally lined withagain attracting thousands of visitors. La Habana
splendid churches and mansions of the city's formerVieja (Old Havana) was declared a UNESCO World
aristocracy. They have suffered greatly from neglect,Heritage Site in 1982. Some of its loveliest buildings
and many are now crumbling and decrepit.were converted into museums. Visitors looking for
For three hundred years, urban life in the Cubanculture will find that the city has churches, palaces,
capital took place intramuros, or "within the citycastles, monuments and markets.
walls". Then, in the early nineteenth century, a buildingCathedral Plaza is a popular attraction and one of the
boom began. Havana's city walls were pulled down tomost beautiful squares in the city. The steeples of
facilitate city planning and road building between thethe Cathedral of San Cristobal de La Habana
old Intramuros Plaza and the newer Extramuros Plaza.dominate the look of the square. Not far from the
Gateway to the New World.square is the 1588 Real Fuerza Castle, the oldest
The city of Havana was founded in 1515 where thesurviving colonial fortress in the New World. The Plaza
Cuban capital stands today. Its naturally protectedde las Armas, its streets lined with swaying royal
harbour began operation slightly later, in 1519.palms, has been the Cuban centre of power and
Havana's central Caribbean location was a boon togovernment for four hundred years. The majestic
the city's development.Capitanes Generales Palace, home of the National
All the important trade routes to and from MexicoMuseum, is on the west side of this plaza. It is one
and Peru passed through here. Havana was namedof the grandest buildings in Cuba.
the capital of the Cuban colony in 1607 andHand-Rolled Cigars.
unofficially proclaimed the gateway to the NewCentral Havana functioned as the red light district of
World. Although its population would remain in checkthe city prior to the Revolution; currently one might
for a century or more, its progress as a commercialrather say it glows in pale pastels. Visitors tend to
and political centre was continuous and uninterrupted.avoid this area as a rule, most preferring to stick to
Hemingway's Cuba.the comforts of the Vedado district and the famous
In the early twentieth century, American Prohibitionattractions of Old Havana. There is nevertheless a
brought tourism of a sort to Havana for the firstgreat deal to see in central Havana. The district is
time.dominated by the monumental El Capitolio Nacional,
The Caribbean metropolis, especially the Vedadobuilt as a more ornate twin of the U.S. Capitol in
district, where the 142-metre tall memorial to nationalWashington, D.C. as if to mock capitalism.
hero Jose Marti stands, became a jet set stompingHavana's oldest cigar factory is located on the west
ground where everyone could enjoy a bottle of rum,side of the Capitolia. The approximately 400 people
an aromatic cigar and a little salsa dancing.employed here continue to roll cigars the
Ernest Hemingway was drawn to Havana, and manyold-fashioned way, by hand.