The first settlement of the city was near the outlet of Antiguo Mayabeque river in 1514 and it was baptized as San Cristobal. On November 16, 1519 the first residents moved to the present-day place. Under the shadow of an ancient Ceiba tree, almost in front of the sea, the first mass and town council was officiated, the settlement acquired the Village title and a new name: San Cristobal de la Habana.

Cosmopolitan, talkative and open city which knows how to live its interior life with true intensity. It has interesting mysteries to unveil.

Nowadays is the first tourist destination of the country with an architectural patrimony of its colonial past, motive of admiration for the visitors.

Palaces, colonial mansions, squares, cobble stone streets, churches, ancient fortresses, old walls.. the nowadays called Old Havana with the first constructions of the city, is one of the most important urban groups in the continent. It treasures 88 monuments of architectural historical value, 860 of environmental value and 1760 harmonic constructions. Some of the constructions correspond to the XVI and XVII centuries.

“It is, par excellence, a monumental area; 90 percent of its buildings is valuable”, precise Eusebio Leal, historian of the city.

Nevertheless, Old Havana it is not a museum piece, neither it is restored to the way of a film set. It is a "boiling" community of 100 000 inhabitants interacting with its environment

Havana, in general, included its modern area, has a humanist environment that generates warmth and approach among people. The blue sky, the sun and the sea, of very beloved presence for their inhabitants, are very close, in soul, with the people, making them more simple, cheerful and fraternal.