Cuba

Cuba captured the world's imagination thanks to Christopher Columbus, who in 1492 described the Caribbean's biggest island: "I have never seen a more beautiful country, with palm leaves so big they can roof a house, with thousands of shells on the beach, with such limpid water, and always the same dizzying symphony of bird songs."

Cuba remains the same wonderful island, replete with breathtaking scenery, idyllic beaches and amazingly fertile land. But in the course of a tumultuous history, this mysterious and inscrutable country was indelibly shaped by the mark of human hands.

 

Its capital, Havana, is a city that moves to the beat of its own rhythm, halfway between the relaxed pace of a sultry tropical town and a frenzied atmosphere like that of New York City.

The first thing that strikes visitors when they get to Havana is its urbanity. Not a false, superficial urbanity, but one that is deeply rooted in its very walls, its way of life and its population of over two million inhabitants. Founded in 1514 by Panfilio de Narváez, under the orders of Diego Velázquez, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for Old Havana boasts a rich architectural legacy. Such international recognition says a lot about this historic city, which was once the jewel of the Spanish colonies.

 

Havana is a city of depth and character, whose seductive charms are impossible to resist. Discover its grand plazas -- Plaza de la Catedral and its cathedral, or Plaza de Armas, Plaza de San Francisco or Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro and the Fortaleza San Carlos de la Cabaña; its neighbourhoods such as Prado and Vedado, and the Parque Central. Treat yourself to a stroll along the Malecón, a seaside promenade, or explore the Museo de la Ciudad or the Palacio de Bellas Artes.