23rd and 12th STREET INTERSECTION
This famous spot in the neighbourhood of El Vedado, near the Colón Cemetery, has been declared a National Monument. Precisely in the intersection of these streets, is where the memorable farewell ceremony took place of the victims of the aerial attack by airplanes from the United States against several Cuban airports and facilities on April 16th of 1961. This attack was a prelude to the mercen... For more information...

AMERICAS HOUSE (CASA DE LAS AMERICAS)
One of the institutions of prestige, it is located in the intersection of G and 3rd Avenues in the neighbourhood of Vedado in Havana City. It was opened in 1959 by Haydee Santamaría, one of the two women that took part in the attack on the Moncada Garrison (Cuartel Moncada) on July 26th of 1953. The present day House is presided over by Roberto Fernández Retamar and due to the incessant effort... For more information...

BODEGUITA DEL MEDIO
This famous restaurant located in the heart of Old Havana (Habana Vieja) opened its doors in 1942 and among the most loyal clients were intellectuals that would pop in after doing business in a nearby printing press. It was named for its position precisely in the very centre of Empedrado Street, very close to the Cathedral Plaza (Plaza de la Catedral). One of the journalists thought to write ... For more information...

CEMETERY OF COLUMBUS
A National Monument since 1987, it is a true architect’s jewel, from its impressive portico up to the history written in marble and all types of stone in its funerary structures built during the last three centuries. The Pórtico, done in romantic style, is crowned by a sculptural ensemble created by the Cuban artist José Villalta y Saavedra and represents “Faith, Hope and Charity”, at the foot... For more information...

COIN HOUSE (CASA DE LA MONEDA)
Founded on July 18th of 1977 at the intersection of Aguiar and Obrapía, in Old Havana. Since its opening and until 1989 it belonged to the Cuban National Bank (Banco Nacional de Cuba), a period in which it was dedicated mainly to coining commemorative pieces, as well as small quantities of circulating coins, among others. The present day factory opened on March sixth of 1991, featuring a more ... For more information...

CUBA’S NATIONAL LIBRARY (BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL DE CUBA)
This building is among those surrounding the Revolution’s Plaza, but the institution was founded on October 18th of 1901. Its initial location, was in the Castle of the Forces (Castillo de la Fuerza) where it had only 3 151 books. It wasn’t until 1949 when by an idea of Don Fernando Ortíz, the council of sponsors decided to name the building José Martí, which would be built years later, when t... For more information...

EL CACAHUAL
Solemn group of monuments inaugurated on December 7th of 1900. Since then it honours the memory of two brave Cuban warriors, Antonio Maceo Grajales and Panchito Gómez Toro. There, a blunt column rises in the same place where both patriots were buried for the first time. This pantheon was built with money from a public collection, and on that same date a park was built that surrounds the column. Fo... For more information...

EL TEMPLETE
It has become a symbol of the birth of the Villa of San Cristóbal de la Habana. It is said that in this place, located in the present day Plaza de Armas, on November 16th of 1519, the colonists and neighbours met to celebrate the first mass, and at the same time, the first meeting of the Chapter House, with the aim of definitely establishing a city blessed with the salt and water of the bay, under... For more information...

ENGLAND HOTEL (HOTEL INGLATERRA)
Located in the historical quarters of the Cuban capital, the hotel rises majestically across the street from the Paseo del Prado and the Central Park. From its balconies one can admire the Havana Bay. It is right next to the Great Havana Theatre (Gran Teatro de la Habana), the seat of Cuba’s National Ballet. It is a little over 100 metres from the Capitol building and near the Fine Arts Museum (Mu... For more information...

GREAT THEATER OF HAVANA
It acquired its actual name in 1985. It was previously known as Gran Teatro de Tacón, which opened in 1838. Right from the beginning, it became internationally famous and many artists from around the world performed there. After several reforms, both to its exterior as to its interior, the building was enlarged to give way to the one existing today, and is considered a faithful recreation of the G... For more information...

Guanabacoa
On June 12th of 1554, it was founded as the Town of the Indians (Pueblo de Indios) and a year later, for the space of six months, it became the temporal capital of the island due to the attack of the French corsair Jacques de Sores. Today there are buildings related to history, among them the ancient Lyceum (Liceo Artístico y Literario), where José Martí made his first public speech in Cuba, and t... For more information...

HAVANA CATHEDRAL (CATEDRAL DE LA HABANA)
It is an example of baroque influence on architecture in the Island. Since 1782 the building had been conceived as a sanctuary by the Jesuits, who had it built next to their seminar to honour the Purísima Concepción and San Cristóbal of La Habana, patron of the city. Years later, in 1793, the Royal Decree (Real Cédula) conferred upon it the title of Cathedral, under the order of the first bishop, ... For more information...

HAVANA CITY
Founded in 1519 as the Villa of San Cristóbal de La Habana, it is the capital of Cuba and the country’s main tourist destination. More than a century ago, the Villa was threatened by corsairs and pirates. In reply to this menace many defensive castles, walls, towers and other buildings were constructed, whose names today are familiar among the population: La Fuerza, El Morro, La Cabaña, La Chor... For more information...

HAVANA’S CHINA TOWN (BARRIO CHINO LA HABANA)
It dates back to June of 1847 when the first 260 Chinese arrived in Havana. They came filled with dreams and hopes, searching for jobs in the Spanish Crown’s most important colony. The eight-year contract that they had signed was a deceit in order to turn them into slaves. Since then this country received the Chinese people that together with the Negroes and white races, became the beautiful mi... For more information...

LA JUNTA LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE
This engine was manufactured in 1843 and is considered the most ancient of those existing in Cuba and has been declared a National Monument. It is the pride of the Cuban Railway Museum (Museo del Ferrocarril Cubano) which is located in the hundred year old Cristina Station (Estación Cristina), in the centre of Havana City. It was the insignia locomotive engine of the Matanzas Railways and boast... For more information...

LATIN AMERICAN STADIUM
Located in the capital municipality of El Cerro, it rises up as one of the most symbolic Cuban sports installations and is a main scenario of baseball, the national sport of the Island. It was opened on October 26th of 1946. It treasures a history full of important episodes beyond sports achievements. It is next to the busy Corner of Tejas (Esquina de Tejas) a place of the confluence of the avenu... For more information...

MELLA PLAZA
Located at the intersection of the streets of San Lázaro and Neptuno, right in front of the stone steps of the University of Havana. This site, declared a National Monument, contains the ashes of Julio Antonio Mella, founder of the Student University Federation (Federación Estudiantil Universitaria: FEU) and of the first Communist Party of Cuba. The black and white contrasting shades of its... For more information...

MUSEUM-HOUSE OF DULCE MARÍA LOYNAZ
The residence of the famous poetess, National Literature Prize (1988) and Cervantes Prize (1992), was converted into a Museum honouring the most talented Cuban writer of the XX century (1902-1997). This building was restored with the cooperation of the Junta de Andalucía and Cuba, and it housed great celebrities of Spanish literature such as Federico García Lorca and Gabriela Mistral. The pl... For more information...

NATAL HOUSE OF RUBÉN MARTÍNEZ VILLENA
It is one of the buildings that was declared a National Monument due to its historical importance, located on Avenue 91 number 8 427, in Alquilar, in the southwest of Havana. Here Rubén Martínez Villena was born, who fought for social improvement in the country during the thirties decade of the past century. Typical walls and wooden flooring, tile roofs, earth patio and portal, were details of ... For more information...

NATIONAL AQUARIUM
Founded on January 23rd of 1960 with only a few fish tanks and ponds, thirteen years later it received its first marine mammal, a sea lion (Artocephalus pusillus) baptised with the name Silvia. In 1985 the shows started with Diana and Ciclón, two bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). On January 14th of 2002 the first stage in the enlargement was finished, where a dolphin area was included ... For more information...

NATIONAL CAPITOL
A monumental building located almost at the end of the famous Havana Paseo del Prado. It was built during the years of 1926 to 1929 and in the beginning harboured the legislative corps of the Republic. The National Capitol became one of the symbols that distinguish not only Havana City but also Cuba. To roam its inner chambers is to discover rooms and hallways that are historical treasures, such ... For more information...

National Hotel of Cuba
Declared a National Monument by the Ministry of Cuban Culture and a Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO, it is located in a privileged sea front area from which most of the Havana Bay can be seen, as well as the malecon and the Vedado neighbourhood. With a five star category, this legendary hotel features over 400 rooms, most of them with a seaside view, of these 16 are suites and one is a Pre... For more information...

NATIONAL ZOO PARK
With two centres in the capital, it carries out multiple tasks such as recreational, educational, cultural and research activities related to native and exotic fauna in captivity. It has become a centre for exhibiting Cuban and foreign fauna and at the same time it controls protected or endangered species, carrying out research in order to guarantee their reproduction and raising in captivity. It ... For more information...

OLD HAVANA
Hailed by UNESCO as a Heritage of Humanity, it treasures dozens of places in a quite flat area of about 4,5 square kilometres. Ancient fortresses, palaces built during the XVII, XVIII and XIX centuries, museums of enormous historical value, emblematic restaurants such as La Bodeguita del Medio or the Plaza of Havana’s Cathedral (Plaza de la Catedral de la Havana), surrounded by centuries-old bu... For more information...

PLAZA OF THE REVOLUTION
This is quite an emblematic place for the Cubans due to the fact that on this wide esplanade many political, cultural or recreational acts have taken place. The Plaza is surrounded by many buildings, such as the National Theatre (Teatro Nacional) and the National Library (Biblioteca Nacional), as well as the Ministries of Communications, the Revolutionary Armed Forces and of the Interior, whos... For more information...

QUINTA DE LOS MOLINOS
The century old building is found on Salvador Allende Avenue, previously called Carlos III. It has been transformed into a Museum that honours the memory of the Mambi General Máximo Gómez and in 1986 it was declared a National Monument. It was built in the second half of the XIX century with the idea that it serve as a summer residence for the Spanish Captain Generals of the Republic, and at t... For more information...

REMEDIOS
San Juan de los Remedios was the eighth villa founded by the Spanish in 1515. The historical centre was declared a National Monument in 1980 and has a unique plaza, since it is the only one in the country where two churches stand: Our Lady of the Good Trip (Nuestra Señora del Buen Viaje) and the Parroquia Mayor, in the latter there is a huge altar gilded in gold leaf and a sculpture representing t... For more information...

SAN FRANCISCO DE ASIS CONVENT
Located in the historical area of the Cuban capital, this convent has been named by UNESCO as a Patrimony of Humanity. The plaza which accesses it is considered as one of the first three in Havana due to its antiquity. It is named Plaza de San Francisco de Asis because it was built by the Franciscan monks who started construction on both the convent and the plaza in 1574 and finished in 1591. ... For more information...

SANTA CLARA
Capital of the province of Villa Clara, its founding dates back to 1689. It is some 270 kilometres east of Havana. It is a typical city and many of its inhabitants live in brick houses with red clay roof tiles, in a quaint reminder of small Spanish villages. Many identify it as the city of Che, due to the fact that in this city the Heroic Warrior fought at the head of his invading column for ... For more information...

TEMPLE OF POTOSI (ERMITA DEL POTOSÍ)
This ancient building was declared a National Monument on April 23rd of 1997. It is located in the angle formed by the Calzada de Guanabacoa and Potosí Street in the historical capital, also known as the Villa of Pepe Antonio, and occupies an outstanding place in history and legends. The Temple was built in 1644 as a tribute to the Immaculate Concepción de María. It is built in Moroccan sty... For more information...

The Butterfly (National Flower)
On October 13th of 1936 the Butterfly (Mariposa) was declared the national flower. Its scientific name is Hedychium Coronarium Koenig, from the Zingiberáceas family (alpináceans). It is not native of the island, but originated in Asia, nevertheless it has adapted itself very well to our moist earth. Its whiteness represents the purity of the ideas of independence and it is a symbol of peace. Accor... For more information...

THE NINE O’CLOCK CANNON FIRE (EL CAÑONAZO DE LAS NUEVE)
Every day, always at nine at night, a good part of Havana hears the deep sound of a familiar shot. It is the traditional cannon shot that marks exactly 2100 hours. This is carried out by skilled hands operating an ancient cannon that shoots a blank from the Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña (Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña), from where the Havana City landscape can be gazed upon. The ni... For more information...

THE PLACE WHERE JOSÉ ANTONIO ECHEVERRÍA FELL
This historical place is located almost at the intersection of L and 27th streets in the area of El Vedado, in the capital. This place, declared a National Monument, was where José Antonio Echeverría Bianchi (1932-1957) was gunned down on March 13th of 1957. He was a student of architecture and acted as president of the FEU. He had started to fight since March 10th of 1952, the date of Ful... For more information...

TROPICANA CABARET
This cabaret was founded in 1939, and soon this Paradise under the stars became the favourite of those visiting the Cuban capital. This is one of the largest night clubs in the country and among its many options are restaurants, the lounge under the stars and the incomparable show awing almost a thousand spectators. On Tropicana’s stage many famous celebrities have performed, such as Nat King ... For more information...

UNIVERSITY OF HAVANA
This centre of superior studies treasures an enormous amount of historical events and places, from its challenging 88 stone steps, to the statue of the Alma Máter and that of Ignacio Agramonte, the well preserved areas where important studies were carried out by famous students such as Cuba’s President Fidel Castro. The Mella Memorial, which holds the ashes of the young student who founded the... For more information...

WORKER’S NATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF CUBA (CONFEDERACIÓN NACIONAL OBRERA DE CUBA )
This institution was founded on August 2nd of 1925 and was a significant step for the Cuban worker’s movement. The first congress was held on that day in Camagüey, but the seat was later transferred to the present day capital municipality of Centro Habana, along San Miguel street, between Lucena and Marqués González streets, where the building is located. The building previously had been the ancie... For more information...