Old Havana, Administrative district in Havana, Cuba
Old Havana is an administrative district within Havana Province, Cuba, spreading through narrow lanes lined with buildings from the 16th to the 19th centuries and containing more than 1,000 historic structures. The layout connects five main squares through a network of old thoroughfares, with many facades showing arcades, inner courtyards, and decorated doorways.
A French corsair named Jacques de Sores burned much of the settlement in 1555, prompting the construction of several fortifications shortly afterward to guard against further attacks. The earliest of these stone strongholds, the Castillo de la Real Fuerza, was completed in 1558 with thick walls and marks the start of a wider fortification phase.
Street names such as Obispo and Mercaderes recall old trades and commercial routes, while wooden balconies and wrought iron grills decorate facades along the pavements. Residents often sit outside their doorways or chat from windows, giving the district a lived-in quality despite its age.
The lanes are often narrow and paved with uneven stones, so comfortable shoes help when walking through the district for longer periods. Shade is available under the arcades and many squares offer benches for resting between visits.
Some of the older lanes still keep original paving stones that arrived as ballast on European ships before loading Cuban cargo. These stones came from different regions and give the street surfaces an uneven, historic texture.
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