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Almost a quarter of Cuba's 10 million people
live in Havana or La Habana
-Cuba's capital city in the province with
the same name. It lies about 90 miles south
of Key West, Florida. It is the largest
city in the Caribbean and one of the oldest
in the Americas. Politically and culturally,
Havana is the most important city in the
country. It is situated at the mouth of
a deep bay and natural harbor. Before the
revolution Havana was considered the most
beautiful and impressive city in the Caribbean.
Despite being run down, it is still a fascinating
city and has some of the best 16th century
Spanish colonial architecture in the world.
As you will see in the section on entertainment,
there is a wide range of activities in and
around the Havana area-plenty to do to keep
busy: restaurants, bars, movies, night clubs,
parks, a wealth of historic museums and
so much more.
Havana covers about 290 square miles and
is divided into 15 districts or municipalities.
Some are on the ocean and others far from
the center of the city. It is easy to get
lost or confused because many of the city's
main avenues have two names. Be aware that
the residents use the old, pre-revolution
names. Addresses are usually given as locations
with street numbers being used once in a
while. Most of Havana is laid out on a grid
pattern like other Cuban cities.
The center of the city is divided into
several sections, three of which are the
most interesting. Havana Vieja or
Old Havana is a diamond shaped area in the
historical heart of the city. It remains
a monument to the past with its narrow cobblestone
streets, old aristocratic mansions, plazas
and magnificent buildings. In Havana
Vieja a total of 1,853 buildings of
different styles can be found, constructed
during five centuries: 144 belong to the
XVI and XVII, 200 to the XVIII, 463 to the
XIX and 902 to the XX.
For over 350 years it was the entire city.
This part of the city is laid out on a grid
pattern in the typical Spanish colonial
style and has some fine examples of colonial
architecture. It is located at the west
side of the entrance to the harbor and has
its center on the shore of Havana Bay.
There are also numerous hotels, museums,
bars and restaurants in this area which
overflow with Cuban rhythm and flavor. The
best way to explore this area is on foot
since there is so much to see.
On the sea side end is the Malecón
or seashore promenade sometimes called Avenida
Maceo. It runs for three miles along
the coast from the Castillo de la Punta
at the north end of Havana Vieja
to the Almendares River at the west
end of Vedado district continuing through
the Miramar District and eventually becoming
the highway to Mariel.
It is the most scenic area in the city
and dotted with seaside restaurants, bars,
monuments, office buildings, parks and tall
hotels. The Malecón is a great place
for a strolling and viewing breathtaking
sunsets or just sitting on the seawall watching
the locals sunbathe, swim, fish off the
rocks or flirt with the many attractive
women who pass-by. During the day it is
the gathering place for families, young
lovers and jineteros (street hustlers).
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