Welcome to Havana

Founded in 1519 by Spanish conquistadors, Havana has been a crossroads of cultures for over 500 years. Pirates raided its harbors, colonial mansions rose along its boulevards, and in the 20th century it became a glamorous playground of casinos, cabarets, and jazz clubs.

Then came the 1959 revolution. When the U.S. imposed a trade embargo, Cuba was cut off from American car imports, spare parts, and much of the global economy. The result? Havana became a living time capsule. Today, roughly 60,000 classic 1950s American cars — Chevrolets, Buicks, Fords, and Cadillacs — still cruise the streets, kept alive by ingenious Cuban mechanics who fabricate their own parts.

Old Havana (La Habana Vieja) was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, home to stunning baroque cathedrals, art deco theaters, and neoclassical plazas. And everywhere, music fills the air — Havana is the birthplace of salsa and a wellspring of son, rumba, and Afro-Cuban jazz. Let's explore.