Travel and vacations are nowadays more than enough reasons for many people to make a list of capitals to visit in the world, and Havana stands out in 2024 in many of those choices.
The well-preserved urban landscape, thanks to the Office of the Historian of the City (Eusebio Leal, 1942-2020) and the serious intentions of the Ministry of Tourism (Mintur) and other agencies, looks like a Babel in terms of languages, understandings and people with dissimilar origins.
Founded in 1519 in the shade of a Ceiba tree, Havana, Cuba’s capital, became a cosmopolitan city frequented by travelers from all over the world eager to get to know it.
The harsh economic times the island is going through has made an impact on the city, nonetheless it preserves its beauties that enchant foreigners.
Cuba and Havana as an essence of essences, represents a mixed people with origins ranging from Spanish and African and including Chinese, Haitian, German, French, Hebrew and many others.
Given its particular attractiveness as a city invaded in 1555 by pirates and in 1762 by the English, its walls and shelters preserve pieces, stones and vestiges of historical value.
That richness was awarded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) when it was declared a World Heritage Site in 1982.
It is the axis of tourism in Cuba, since more than 90 percent of all travelers who come to the country, whether for leisure, business or medical attention, walk along its streets.
The territory’s economy is based on industry, commerce, services and tourism, with 47 percent of all the country’s hotels located in its area (Cuba has more than 80,000 rooms in some 300 hotels).
In its streets you can breathe in the hustle and bustle of salsa and also son and danzón, the latter is known for a way of dancing “in a single brick”. (https://www.plenglish.com/news/2024/07/21/havana-among-tourists-favorite-destinations/)
