Havana streets THE HABANA VIEJA AND EL MALECÓN DISTRICTS
Declared as part of the Human Heritage by UNESCO in 1981, Old Havana, the city’s most ancient quarter, is an indispensable halt to be made in the Cuban capital. Not in vain does it comprise close to a thousand buildings, the oldest of which originate from the 16th century.
Old Havana, a settlement formed around its harbour, the historical centre and Plaza de Armas, is a city that Alejo Carpentier gave the denomination of the “city of the pillars”, but its personality is so eclectic that it could also be called the city of the grilles and railings, the impressive front doors, the stucco, the intimacy, the shade, the fresh breeze, the patios…. In Old Havana is where the majestic monuments, fortresses, convents, churches and palaces are to be found, as are the winding alleys, the arcades and the character of the people. In a nutshell, Old Havana stands out as the richest and most varied colonial setting in the whole of the Latin American world.
LEISURE AND GASTRONOMY
One of the hidden delights of Havana can be found in its cuisine. The city offers the most varied gastronomic scenario in the country, with an ample selection of well-priced restaurants specialising in the national, traditional as well as international cuisine. This culinary offer is complemented with the incomparable setting of a series of restaurants with special charm, such as a place to relish an aperitif atop a tower with panoramic vistas over the city, or sitting down at a table at one of the most charismatic spots in Havana.
The best option for lunchtime is a bite to eat at one of the numerous street booths scattered over the Old Havana and Vedado districts, where one can savour delicious pies and pizzas for just a few pesos.
PURE HAVANA
Cuba is the land of tobacco. It was in this island that the first Spaniards saw Indians smoking and from where the custom was spread throughout the world. A visit therefore, to be considered as obligatory, must be made to the Partagas factory and museum, located in a building dating back to 1845, with their legendary cigar-makers.
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