Cathedral Square, Old Havana

Stroll through the Plaza de La Catedral (Cathedral Square), the famous city center, in Old Havana, Cuba

Cathedral Square, Old Havana
© Xbeta

The Plaza de la Catedral (Cathedral Square) is one of the four main colonial squares in Old Havana. It is around each of these that city life emerges. Around Plaza de la Catedral you can find a variety of delicious restaurants, emblematic buildings, like the Catedral de la Habana, as well as Cuban and baroque art. Make sure to visit the Plaza de la Catedral during your trip to Havana to appreciate the liveliness of Cuban culture and the city of Old Havana.

Cathedral Square
© Xbeta

Before being the Plaza de la Catedral, this city center used to be named the Plaza de la Ciénaga or Swamp Square. The unattractive name stems from the second half of the sixteenth century when waters ran through the plaza and Old Havana’s first aqueduct, the Zanja Real, emptied. In the eighteenth century, the landscape of the neighborhood transformed and with it came a change in name. Mansions, villas, and the famous Catedral de La Habana were built during this century by rich Cuban families.

Today, this area of Havana still poses its colonial and luxurious look. The facades of these homes stand out among the rest due to their wide arches, windows, balconies, and bright colors. Among these homes is the Palacio de los Marqueses de Aguas Claras. The palace-turned-restaurant is especially noteworthy due to its baroque style and Andalusian patio interior. However, you can still find traces of the former swamp at the Callejón del Chorro, where a plaque commemorates the era.

If you visit the Plaza de la Catedral, make sure to also drop by the Palacio de los condes de Casa Bayona, home to the Museo de Arte Colonial (Museum of Colonial Art).

Ernest Hemingway fans don't miss out on La Bodeguita del Medio restaurant, a place often frequented by the American writer and journalist. Others like Pablo Neruda and Salvador Allende have also visited the restaurant. But even if you aren’t interested in these prominent figures, make sure you stop by La Bodeguita del Medio to fill up on some of the best Cuban food in the city.

More information:
Location:

San Ignacio esq. Empedrado, La Habana - Cuba.

Interactive map:

Havana:

Old Havana

Parque Histórico Militar Morro Cabaña

Centro Habana

Vedado

Miramar

What to see around Havana

Other nearby destinations:

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