Cuba Capital

Tucked in the province of Habanna, south west off the coast of Florida, the city of Havana located on 23°8 N and 83°23 W was founded on 25 August 1515. Havana with a population of 2,662,000(2005 stats), is the largest city of Cuba and the oldest in Latin America before New York and Mexico cities.

The Cuban ministries and parliament are located in the Capital City of Havana. Havana was named after an Amerindian chief Habaguanex who controlled the area in the past. According to an Indian Cuban myth her daughter’s name was Habana hence the city of Habana/Havana. Havana was made the city and official capital of Cuba on the 10 December 1592 by King Philip II of Spain as all the main offices, trade and businesses were located there.

The city of Havana is divided in different parts, old Havana, Centro Havana, Vedado and Miramar. Old Havana, declared World Heritage in 1982, grew on the outskirts of the port and is famous for its cultural and historical Spanish colonial architecture and designs. Old Havana is a fortress built to resist the corsairs, pirates and buccaneers attacks. Within its walls, buildings ranging from gothic, neoclassical and 17th century baroque stand alongside modern houses and courtyards. Though the hurricanes and tropical weather have got its toll over the years over the old colonial relics of Spanish Cuba, they are now being restored as Cuba is opening its frontiers to tourists from the outside world. Centro Havana is well known for it Chinese centre or its Chinatown. Chinese restaurants, reminiscent of the great Chinese immigrants who came to this part of the world was built in the early 20th century.