Havana

There is no agency fee charged for the holiday house presented on this site. The proceeds go directly to the owner. However she will pay a large amount as taxes to the Cuban government.

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Havana

Havana, with its 2,500,000 inhabitants, is a vibrant city and houses many ancient buildings and monuments. The city was founded in 1519 by Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar (see: Havana: History). Havana is divided into four districts: Havana Vieja (Old Havana), Centro Havana, Vedado and Miramar.

Havana Vieja, the oldest neighbourhood, is filled with historic attractions. It seems as if time has stood still, but there are plenty of shops and lively cafés and restaurants. In 1982 UNESCO proclaimed Havana Vieja a cultural heritage for humanity. This was the start for renovating the old buildings and bringing back the old grandeur of the city.

Centro Havana is a district with buildings from different times in different styles. Building started around 1890 and was completed about 1940. The French city architect Forestier, who designed most of the district, finished it. However, if you are strolling through the neighbourhood, you will see that here the financial problems that Cuba has endured, have had their greatest effect.

Vedado means "forbidden". The district received its name in the 16th century, because it was not allowed to built in this area. This is the main district with its broad avenues, big houses and lots of open spaces. You will find most political buildings here and there are many shops, cinemas, offices and so on. Still, it seems like an old district because of the traditional houses and their large gardens.

The fourth district is Miramar. Here are the big luxurious houses and many diplomats live in this area. Almost all embassies are located here and there even is a modern supermarket where you will find international products, which will not normally be found anywhere else on the island.

Most attractions are located in Havana Vieja, but because of the large differences among its districts, the entire city is an attraction. It is certainly worthwhile to explore all of them, whether on foot or by taxi. See also: Havana: Highlights