Plaza Vieja, Colonial square in Old Havana, Cuba.
Plaza Vieja is a square at the heart of Old Havana featuring buildings in Cuban baroque style painted in various colors and arranged around an open central area. Fountains and colonnades define the space, with restaurants, cafes, and art galleries lining its edges.
The square was founded in 1559 as Plaza Nueva and evolved from a military training ground into a public marketplace for residents. Over centuries, it underwent changes and redesigns until it took on its present form with distinctive structures.
The square functions today as a gathering spot where locals and visitors share meals and explore art galleries along its edges. The museums scattered around tell stories about Cuban life and heritage that shape how people engage with the space.
The square is easy to walk through with all key areas close together, making it simple to see everything in one visit. There are plenty of outdoor seating areas and indoor spaces in the establishments around it where you can rest while exploring.
A tower on the square houses a Camera Obscura that displays the entire old neighborhood through a periscope system from above. This optical device offers an unusual view of the rooftops and alleyways that you would never see from ground level.
Location: Havana
GPS coordinates: 23.13608,-82.35006
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:03
Cuban landscapes combine colonial buildings in Havana, beaches in Varadero, and tobacco fields in Valle de Viñales. The capital displays historic structures like the Capitol, Gran Teatro, and Morro fortress. The coastal regions present white sand beaches and clear waters.
Walking through downtown Havana, you find a city shaped by four hundred years of stories. The streets are lined with buildings that show the time when Spain ruled. Big walls from the 1500s keep the port safe, while churches with detailed baroque designs sit next to simple, straight-lined neoclassical palaces. The paved squares make you want to stop and look at the coral stone facades in soft colors. Havana has changed a lot over time. Buildings used for colonial government work or factories now hold museums, theaters, and art spaces. The Morro Castle has watched over the port since the 1500s with its thick walls. The San Cristobal Cathedral looks over the old part of town with its uneven towers. The Capitol from the 1900s stands tall with a large dome, and the Christ statue on the coast is made of pure white marble. If you like walking and watching, Havana has nice walks to take. The Paseo del Prado features marble benches and iron street lamps. Places like El Templete, where the first mass was held, or the Colón Cemetery with its chapels and sculptures, tell stories about religious and family history. Art spaces like the Fabrica de Arte Cubano keep the city’s current creative work alive amid old buildings.
Havana Cathedral
620 m
Bacardi Building
792 m
Castillo de la Real Fuerza
549 m
Palacio de los Capitanes Generales
432 m
Manzana de Gómez
834 m
El Templete
503 m
Produce Exchange Building
282 m
Old Town Square
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Iglesia Santo Cristo del Buen Viaje
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Abdallah Mosque
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Palacio del Segundo Cabo
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Bank of Nova Scotia Building, Havana
461 m
Royal Bank of Canada building
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Plaza de Arms
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San Francisco Square
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Museo Nacional de Historia Natural Cubana
864 m
Rum museum
258 m
Neptune Fountain
707 m
José Martí House Museum
767 m
La Merced Church
515 m
Greek Orthodox churches in Cuba
208 m
El caballero de París
182 m
Monument to José de la Luz y Caballero
702 m
Albear Monument
769 m
Custom House for the Port of Havana
280 m
Palacio de la Marquesa de Villalba, Havana
734 m
Lions' Fountain
220 m
Obispo
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