Havana

Havana is a dusty city, but at the same time it is very attractive, colorful and magnetic. This is an important megalopolis with 2.5 million inhabitants. The historic center of Havana is full of narrow, quiet side streets, where the visitor can find a great number of baroque churches, dazzling white palaces and mansions that are a clear reminder of the Spanish power.

The city was founded in 1519 and named after Christopher Columbus as "Villa de San Cristobal de la Habana". It became very soon a gateway to the New World and a city full of architectural treasures. The Pearl of the Antilles prospered and soon in the city began to appear beautiful parks and boulevards, Belle Époque style mansions, modern buildings in Art Deco style and other architectural monuments that clearly show the uniqueness and diversity of the Cuban culture. The colonial center of the city, Old Havana (Havana Vieja), was listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Site in 1982. Nowadays, Cuban authorities are engaged in reconstructing and repairing the architectural monuments.

The Cuban capital fascinates visitors from all over the world with its energy and cheerfulness. The city resembles a huge stage where a play takes place for the tourists to enjoy.