Havana

Havana

The capital of Cuba, Havana, is located on the northwest coast of the island of Cuba. It serves as the country's political, economic, cultural, and tourism hub, with a population of over 2.2 million. The name "Havana" originates from the indigenous people who originally inhabited the area. It is said to be derived from the name of a chief of the ancient Taino Indian tribe, the Siboney, whose name was Habaguanex.

On November 16, 1519, Havana established its permanent city site. A Spanish priest led generals, soldiers, and local indigenous people in holding the first Catholic mass in Havana under a ceiba tree on the north side of what is now the Plaza de Armas in Old Havana. To this day, a shrine built in 1828 still stands there as a permanent memorial to the city’s founding. Thanks to its characteristics as a port city and its strategic location between North and South America, Havana quickly became an important Spanish stronghold and a key transit and stopover point for trade and shipping between the "Old World" of Europe and the "New World" of the Americas. As a result, various urban and port facilities—such as shipyards, trading companies, churches, casinos, theaters, and cafés—sprang up along the western shore of Havana’s small coastline and gradually expanded into a sizable port city.

Havana has a subtropical climate, with an average annual temperature of 25°C and a maximum of 35°C. Being an island nation, the presence of sea breezes means there is no oppressive heat. Especially in the shade, the cool sea breeze brings a refreshing sense of coolness, even at the height of noon under the blazing sun.

Havana is divided into old and new parts. The east side is Old Havana, and the west side is the Vedado district. Old Havana is home to many historical landmarks. Its buildings have a distinctive style, which led UNESCO to declare it a World Heritage Site in 1982.

Havana, Cuba