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.
The monuments in central Havana showcase Spanish colonial military, religious, and civil architecture. The 16th-century fortifications protect the port, while baroque religious buildings and neoclassical palaces line the cobbled squares. Museums, theaters, and cultural centers occupy former administrative and industrial 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
9 m
Iglesia Santo Cristo del Buen Viaje
584 m
Abdallah Mosque
372 m
Palacio del Segundo Cabo
493 m
Bank of Nova Scotia Building, Havana
461 m
Royal Bank of Canada building
347 m
Plaza de Arms
464 m
San Francisco Square
241 m
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
469 mReviews
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