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Havana
One of the largest and most vibrant cities in the Caribbean (population two million), Havana (La Habana) boasts an old town which features on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Much of the money made from tourism is currently being pumped back into restorative works in the city and its buildings. The surrounding 19th-century district of densely packed, crumbling houses and narrow streets has its own appeal as does the high-rise city centre (Vedado), developed during the 1940s and 1950s when US influence was strongest. The most famous of the hotels here is the Nacional, still patronised by Hollywood film stars. Dating from the same period is Miramar, the leafy embassy district reminiscent of Miami. The sea wall, known as the Malecón extends for 8km and is a popular meeting point for locals, especially after dusk. Havana’s best beaches, the Playas del Este, are about 20km from the centre.
Havana is closely associated with the US writer, Ernest Hemmingway. One of his favourite haunts was the bar, La Bodeguita del Medio, only a stone’s throw from the city’s magnificent 18th-century cathedral. Overlooking the neighbouring Plaza de Armas is the Museo de la Ciudad and the recently opened Palacio del Segundo Cabo, former residence of the Captains General, which boasts wonderful rooftop views. The splendidly refurbished rooms of the Museo de Arte Colonial are also worth a visit. The Castello de la Real Fuerza is the oldest of Havana’s three forts. The Capitolio, modelled on the Capitol in Washington DC, was once home to the Cuban government and is sumptuously decorated. The huge Museo de la Revolución occupies the former presidential palace. Outside under a glass case is the Granma, the yacht which brought Castro and the leading rebels back to Cuba in 1956. Guided tours of the tobacco factory (Fábrica de Tobacos Pártagas) are also available. It is worth enjoying a relaxing drink on one of the Habana Vieja hotel rooftops to enjoy the views.
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