Those who have not been interested in Latin American countries before may not know which country's capital is the city of Havana. Cuba is a unique country. This is the largest island in the Caribbean. Someone probably already knows the name of the capital. Havana is a vibrant and colorful travel destination.
The city itself has a complex history, especially in the last hundred years. But before Havana and Cuba hit the headlines, the cities were very different when the Spaniards were there. In particular, La Habana Vieja (Old Town), including the area as a whole and the fortifications within, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. There are many interesting facts that a tourist needs to know about Havana.
Hemingway lived here
Bibliophiles have probably read or at least heard of Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea. This book was based on his life experiences in Cuba. The legendary author lived near the capitalcountry, Havana, in a city called Cojimar. Tourists can visit his estate as well as places Hemingway frequented, such as the Floridita bar. All in all, Havana is a great place for book lovers - and not just because of Hemingway's legacy. The city has an abundance of used book markets, especially in the Plaza de Armas.
Restricted internet access
Cuba has had a troubled economic past, and while tourism certainly brings in a lot of money, many travelers will note that certain amenities are lacking. One of them is the Internet.
While the situation is improving, visitors to the capital of Havana can only connect to the Web in their hotel, or by purchasing a Wi-Fi card on the street. They can be quite expensive ($1 to $10) and the connectivity leaves a lot to be desired. In addition, there are several Internet cafes located throughout the city, such as in the building of the Capitol of the Nation, El Capitolio; however, as a rule, it is too crowded, and you have to wait too long for a free computer.
Great he althcare
Cuba may not have great internet, but it does have top-notch he alth care. In this communist country, the he althcare system is the pride of the government. Students from all over Latin America come here to train as doctors, and patients come for "medical tourism".
However, sometimes there may be a shortage of medicines, so tourists from neighboring countries who are in a difficult situation often turn to theirembassies. In most cases, people in need of emergency medical care are referred to the Cira García hospital, although many hotels have their own doctors. Travelers must also purchase he alth insurance before traveling to Cuba.
Two currencies
Money in Cuba is a little confusing. The country has two official currencies and those visiting Havana are likely to use both:
- CUP is the local non-convertible peso, the currency used among Cubans. Of course tourists can also use CUP. In doing so, they may find that places that only accept this money are much cheaper.
- CUC is formally a tourist currency and is widely accepted in Havana. This is a convertible peso linked to the dollar. For example, 25 CUC is very close to 25 USD.
It may be difficult to find places that exchange US dollars, but contrary to popular belief, it is quite real. Travelers should carry enough cash with them to exchange as credit and debit cards from other countries generally do not work here.
Rum and tobacco
The capital Havana is known for its rum and tobacco. In fact, the Bacardi family used to operate here before leaving the country after the Cuban Revolution. But the production of rum continued, and now the largest producer - "Havana Club" (Havana Club). It is this rum that you need to order in the restaurants of the capital.
And what goes better with a glass of rum thangood cuban cigar Tobacco has a long history in Cuba, and visitors to Havana can learn a lot about it by visiting the Partagas cigar factory.
Havana and Habaneras
Cubans are called Cubans, and people from Havana are called "habaneros" (Habaneros). The locals are very friendly, funny, warmhearted, affectionate and loyal to their friends, family and community.
History
The capital of Cuba, Havana, is located along a magnificent deep-water bay with a sheltered harbour. This has made the city an excellent location for economic development since the colonial times of Spain in the early 16th century. Cuba has a number of such harbors, but Havana on the north coast was valued above all others by the early Spanish colonizers. Several fortifications were built here in an area that resisted most of the invaders. In colonial times, the current capital of Cuba, Havana, was the first island home for the Spanish fleets arriving in the New World, and it became a springboard, firstly, for the conquest of America by the conquistadors, and secondly, for the economic and political dominance of Spain in this hemisphere.
The city early became a cosmopolitan center with extensive fortifications, cobbled squares and houses with ornate façades and iron balconies. Today's capital, Havana, mixes these structures with many modern buildings.
The rich culture of the city included the influence of not only Spaniards from different regions of the Iberian Peninsula, but also other European nations. Small in number native Indianthe Cuban population was not a significant factor in the Havana area, at any rate it was largely annihilated during the period of early contact with the Spaniards. During the colonial years, there was a large influx of black slaves from Africa, who, after the end of slavery at the end of the 19th century, began to flock to Havana. Today's capital of Liberty Island is a mixture of white descendants of Spaniards, black ethnic groups and mulattoes.
The capital of the Republic of Cuba, Havana, has sister cities in many countries: these are Athens in Greece, Minsk in Belarus, Veracruz in Mexico, Cusco in Peru, St. Petersburg and Moscow in Russia and many others.
Location
The city extends mainly to the west and south of the bay and has three main ports: Marimelena, Guasabacoa and Atares. The slow flowing Almendares River crosses the city from south to north, emptying into the Straits of Florida a few miles west of the bay.
The low hills on which the city lies rise gradually from the deep blue waters of the straits. A notable elevation level is a limestone ridge 200 feet (60 meters) high that rises from the east and reaches the heights of La Cabaña and El Morro, colonial fortifications overlooking the bay. Another notable elevation is the hill to the west, where the University of Havana and the Prince's Castle (prison for political prisoners) are located.
Climate
Tourists often ask about the climate in the country and the capital Havana. For the most part, Cuba enjoys a pleasant year-round climate thatdue to the position of the island in the trade wind belt with warm sea currents. Average temperatures range from 22°C in January and February to 28°C in August. Temperatures rarely drop below 10°C. Precipitation is heaviest in October and least between February and April, with an annual average of 1167 mm. Hurricanes sometimes hit the island, but usually they sweep along the south coast, and damage in Havana is usually less than anywhere else in the country.
View of the city
Walls, as well as forts, were built to protect the old city, but by the 19th century, the capital Havana was already beyond its original borders. Its territory first expanded to the south and west. The expansion to the east was facilitated later by the construction of a tunnel under the entrance to the bay; thanks to this, suburbs such as Havana del Este could subsequently develop.
Several wide avenues and boulevards stretch throughout the city. One of the most picturesque is the Malecón, which runs southwest along the coast from the port entrance to the Almendares River, where it passes through a tunnel exiting the other side at Miramar called Avenida Quinta. Roughly parallel to the Malecon in the Vedado area is Linea, another long avenue running under the river. Other streets of note include Avenida del Puerto, Paseo Marti (or Prado), Avenida Menocal (Infanta) and Avenida Italia.
Modern Havana can essentially be described as three cities in one: Old Havana, Vedado and the new suburban areas. Old Havana, with its narrow streets and overhanging balconies, is a traditional center of commerce, industry and entertainment, as well as a residential area. It contains many historical buildings representing architectural styles from the 16th to the 19th century. Covering about three square miles and surrounding the harbour, Old Havana includes Spanish colonial structures, towering baroque and neoclassical buildings, as well as commercial properties and less ostentatious suburban homes.
To the north and west there is a newer part located in the upper part of the city - Vedado. It has become a competitor to Old Havana in terms of commercial activities and nightlife. This part of the city, built mostly in the 20th century, has attractive houses, tall apartments and offices along wide, tree-lined boulevards and avenues. Central Havana is the main shopping area between Vedado and Old Havana.
The third part of the city is richer residential and industrial areas, located mainly in the west. Among them is Marianao, one of the newer parts of the city, built mostly in the 1920s. To some extent, suburban exclusivity was lost after the revolution. Many houses were expropriated by the Castro government as schools, hospitals and government offices. Several private country clubs have been converted into public entertainment centers.
Since colonial times, Havana has been known for its parks and squares. Local residents gather day and night under the sprawling trees of thesenumerous green areas. During colonial times and until almost the end of the 19th century, the Plaza de Armas in Old Havana was the center of urban life. Its most famous building, completed in 1793, is the Palace of the Captain-Generals. It is an ornate structure that has housed the Spanish colonial rulers and, since 1902, three Cuban presidents. The building is now a museum.
Havana's beautiful architecture and sights always make photos attractive.
Recovery
In the 1980s, many parts of Old Havana, including the Plaza de Armas, became part of a planned 35-year multi-million dollar restoration project. The government sought to instill in Cubans an understanding of their past, as well as to make the capital more attractive to tourists.
One of the first buildings to be restored was the Cathedral of Havana, the church of Havana's patron saint, San Cristobal (Saint Christopher). It was built in the 18th century by order of the Jesuits. Its ornate waterfront façade is regarded by art historians as one of the finest examples of Italian Baroque in the world. As a result of restoration work, the cathedral looks the same as after construction.
The Grand Plaza de la Revolución, west of Old Havana, was the site of Fidel Castro's key presidential speeches, delivered to crowds estimated to include up to a million citizens. The square has impressive examples of the city's architecture. Around toweringThe monument to José Martí, leader of Cuba's independence, houses such modern structures as the Center for National Government, the headquarters of the Communist Party of Cuba and the armed forces, as well as various ministries. Central Havana has more traditional buildings, including the former white-domed Capitol, which now houses the Cuban Academy of Sciences; Museum of the Revolution, located in the old Presidential Palace; National Museum of Art.
Another restoration project focused on the old Spanish fortifications that dominate the harbor of Havana and for a time in the 17th and 18th centuries made the city the most fortified in Spanish America. The most famous and impressive of them is Morro Castle (Castillo del Morro), built in 1640. It became the center of a network of forts protecting Havana and with the fortress of La Punta (Castillo de la Punta) dominated the actual entrance to the city.
The construction of the oldest fortification, La Fuerza (Castillo de la Fuerza), was started in 1565 and completed in 1583. Earlier, an even older fort, Hernando de Soto, was erected on the Plaza de Armas in 1538.
