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You can give free reign to your imagination and picture yourself on one of those Old Havana streets centuries ago, when the city was just waking up, or just in the 1950s, when those old American and European cars that are still running on the streets of the city were brand-new.
When you travel to Cuba and visit Old Havana, you will be surprised that history is still alive in Havana. Not just the big history, but the little one, the one that is around little things, around every house, some of them about to fall apart some others just magically recovered from ruins thanks to the efforts of many people that work together under the supervision of a man everybody knows in Havana, the historian of the capital city, Eusebio Leal. That is what makes Havana special not only for tourists, but for the whole mankind.
Begin your Old Havana tour near Prado and Malecon. Walk along Prado Promenade and admire the huge mansions built when the city extended out of the Wall.
Prado Promenade
Go to Central Park, there are many hotels around: Plaza, Parque Central, Telegrafo, the first hotel built in Havana
Go to Central Park, there are many hotels around: Plaza, Parque Central, Telegrafo, the first hotel built in Havana. You can enjoy the music at Inglaterra Hotel’s outdoor café, also known as La Acera del Louvre (Louvre’s Sidewalk), a meeting place of Cuban intelligentsia during Spanish colonial period.
It would be a great plus for your Cuba holidays to buy a ticket for the evening ballet at Garcia Lorca Theater and then, take some time to relax on the shade of Central Park trees, take a picture of Jose Martí statue and listen to the excited crowd talking about baseball.
If you love art it is worth visiting one of Havana museums on your Cuba holidays. You can take a look at the International collection of Havana’s Fine Arts Museum, across from Central Park. It is one of the best in town.
Then, Take some time from your Havana holidays to visit the Capitolio (now being repaired). After that, it would be a good idea to head to Obispo street. After drinking a toast with Hemingway to this captivating city at Floridita go down Obispo.
Obispo St.
It stretches out from Floridita to Arms Square, the center of Spanish dominion over the island, When you get there, take a picture of El Templete, the place where Havana city was founded. Go around the Ceiba tree three times and ask for a wish, but don’t tell anyone what you asked for if you really want it to come true. Get into the Capitan General Museum, one of the best in town. It will certainly be a plus on your Havana holidays. Look at the statue of the Giraldilla, the symbol of Havana city, on top of the tower of La Fuerza Castle, go to the café on top of Santa Isabel hotel, the most luxurious hotel in town during Spanish colonial time, and enjoy the view to Havana Bay, it is just spectacular. If you are getting hungry or want to add some fun to your Old Havana tour, you could turn left on the corner of Obispo and San Ignacio and go down to the Cathedral Square, seat at one of El Patio outdoor tables and sip a drink while moving to the beat of Cuban music, say hi to the famous Spanish Flamenco dancer Antonio Gades, whose statue seems to enjoy the square’s atmosphere, drop by La Bodeguita del Medio, right around the corner and treat yourself with one of Hemingway’s delicious Mojitos.
La Bodeguita del Medio
Then you can go back to Obispo, but this time turn right on Mercaderes street, on the corner of Ambos Mundos Hotel, the place where Hemingway wrote For Whom the Bells Toll. Go down Mercaderes and admire the results of the restoration works that have been carried on in Old Havana. There are lots of places to eat in this area of town. You might even drop by El Mesón de la Flota , one of my favourite, especially in the evenings. You can enjoy Ecos’ Flamenco dancing, they are just fabulous.
Meson de la Flota, Ecos (Flamenco Company)
Mercaderes street comes out into the Old Square, which has been completely restored. The Beer House, Santo Angel Restaurant, El Escorial, The Dark Chamber, The Planetarium, and much more awaits you there.
After a short break on your Havana tour, not far from the Old Square, going down Teniente Rey Street onto Oficios and then left just half a block, you get to San Francisco Square, but right before getting there you will pass by the famous concert hall La Basilica de San Francisco. In front of La Basilica, the Gentleman of Paris smiles to the crowd that tries to take a picture with him and heads to the square, where a flock of pigeons welcome him. You can then go across the street, visit Maria Montilla’s studio, enjoy her paintings and take a rest in the courtyard while admiring the beautiful peacocks or get into Maria Teresa de Calcuta garden, an excellent peaceful green space right behind La Basilica, ideal to relax and soothe the heat away. There is another very intimate garden right behind La Lonja del Comercio, Princess Diana de Gales Garden, a small but nice space to honor this woman. Not far from there, la Alameda de Paula and Paula Church were once important meeting places in the city.
Fishing in Malecon near Port Avenue
I prefer going along Avenida Del Puerto (Port Avenue), enjoy the view to the bay, the statue of Christ in Casablanca, La Fuerza, La Punta and el Morro fortresses, built to defend the city from the British and then maybe take a long walk along Malecon to enjoy the sunset, go fishing or listen to some Cubans playing the guitar, maybe practice speaking some Spanish and experience what some people call “the real Cuba”. Later, in the evening, pick up one of Havana restaurants for a delicious dinner before getting trapped by Havana nightlife. It will make your Havana holidays worth remembering.
Check the list of top Old Havana hotels, choose one for your next Cuba holiday and get ready to go.
If you have decided to stay in Old Havana on your Cuba holidays trip, Cuba Travel Treats will be happy to help you. Contact us for more information.
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