Fun things to do in Havana

Its construction started in 1763, after the taking of Havana by the British, because of the need to complete the defensive system of the northern part of the city in those strategic points that lacked of forts. It is an example of the military architecture of the 18th century for the achievements in weapon techniques of such times and variety of architectonical and special components are combined. The fortress was impressive enough to dissuade the enemies of the Spanish Crown from attacking it.

The sunsets here are amanzing...and romantic. I spended here endless sunsets with my lovely girlfriend Galia...I miss U babe ;)

It´s closely linked to one of Havana's deepest-rooted traditions: the 9:00 p.m. cannon shot. Don´t miss it. One century ago the cannon shot was at 8pm. It was to advice the inhabitants of the city that the gates of the city walls where closing.

Also each year in february takes place here the International Book Fair and each 2 years the Havana Biennal, an important exposition of cuban artist.

In the small village of Casablanca there is a hill and in the top The Havana Christ. As all the famous statues of Christ spread all over the world, it looks to the city and is like giving peace and tranquility to the villagers. It?s 17 mt high and was builded in Carrara marmol in 1958 by Jilma Madera. One curiosity, is the biggest statue at open air even builded by a woman. U can walk around, see the wonderfull vies of the city, and if U catch the sunset here U?ll be charmed. Nice and quiet place to go with your girlfriend and propose.

First urban center in the San Cristobal de la Habana Villa. El Templete is in its limits, and indicates the site in which, according to the tradition, the first mass and town council meeting were held.

It is similar to a small Greco-Roman temple. Its back part faces the bay of Havana and its front part faces the Plaza de Armas, which according to the tradition, indicates the place where the first mass and meeting of the city council were held in 1519 to mark the foundation of the villa in its current location. inaugurated in 1828 was built in the same style as its namesake in the Basque city of Guernica. It contains three large paintings by the French painter Jean-Baptiste Vermay. One of its walls bears a plaque stating that the historic center of the city is a part of World Cultural Heritage.

Being its creation ordered it, 1587 it was not until the second half of the l7th century that it gained in importance. Initially called Plaza Nueva (New Square), its name was changed to that of Plaza Vieja (Old Plaza) when the Plaza del Cristo (Christ Square) was built. By the end of the l7th century it was the Plaza Mayor (Main Square), a relevant trading place and residential area of the Cuban elite until the 18th century. In 1835, the construction on its center of the monumental Mercado de Cristina (Cristina’s Market) was completed in honor of Queen Cristina. It was replaced by a park in 1908 and afterwards by an underground parking lot. The square, after its restoration in the late 90’s, recovered its original pavement. On its center there is a fountain of Carrara marble, a replica of the one that existed in this place in the past, that contributes to rescue the Plaza original charm.

Statue of white marble from Carrara shows Christ blessing the city. With a height of 15 meters, it is placed on a 3-meter pedestal. Keeping in mind the elevation of the hill in which is located it reaches 79 meters above sea level. Cuban artist Jilma Madera created it after winning a designing bid. The work was done in Italy. It is the largest outdoors statue of Carrara marble that a woman has ever made. It has been in his place since 1958.

Coj?mar is a coastal area to the east of the capital. A town of fishermen and humble people able to create lasting friendships. That happened to Gregorio Fuentes starting from the moment in which he knew Ernest Hemingway. As inseparable as it was from Coj?mar that nice man that was telling anecdotes among the residents about it?s Cojimar homeland and "El Papa" as he used to call Hemingway.

The 20 000 neighbors of Coj?mar know that Hemingway belongs them. His figure honors the park facing the blue sea. Look for different paladars around the place that offer good service and great sea food.

The Wall of Havana was built as part of the project to defend the city, along with the forts of the costal protection system.

Its construction began in 1674 and finished a century later. It was intended to turn the city into place free of attacks of corsairs and pirates. As the years went by, the city was split into two and while more activities and settlings took place off the wall, such wall became increasingly more ineffective. They started to demolish the wall in early 1863 and finished at the beginning of the 20th century.

Currently, the remains of the wall are preserved and show the characteristics and design of this important construction of the defensive system of Havana, which according to the specialists, it was not really used.

The famous ceremony of the cannon shot centuries ago was to advice the innhabitants that the gates of this walls where about to close.