You might wander around as much as you want in Havana looking for a best place to hang out and you will never find a place as beautiful and attractive as The Cathedral Square. This spot is the subject of admiration of each and every person tourist or local that has ever visited it.
Today is known as Cathedral Square and it is full of amazing features but in the past dating back to the 17th Century it was know as The Swamp Square. Looking at today's scenery it is very difficult to imagine marsh and floods ion this area. The fact is that it was used to supply the vessels anchored in the harbour with water and there was no construction whatsoever other than a huge pond filled with water coming from the only aqueduct in the 17th Century.
The name is due to a large cathedral built first as oratory of the Hijos de San Ignacio, of the Jesuit order, which first stone was placed in 1748. After three decades the oratory was built, the Cathedral was already functioning, and between 1802 and 1832, important restoration works were made. Beautifully decorated, with important works and copies made by the French Jean Baptiste Vermay, it is a place worth visiting.
As an additional touch, since 1994, as an initiative of the tourist company Habaguanex S.A., its square holds dinners, official gatherings and for amusement too (chosen by important enterprises and agencies), related to travel and emblematic products such as the Habanos. The view is marvellous, to a very well preserved architecture, the cultural richness of the Cuban and the food-making in the restaurants in the surroundings.
Just few seconds walk you can find La Bodeguita del Medio, restaurant that together with El Floridita have become the most famous and emblematic restaurants not only in Cuba but also around the world. The specialty of the restaurant is the Cuban cuisine and its walls are engraved with autographs of numerous famous celebrities such as Ernest Hemingway, Mario Benedetti, Pablo Neruda or Errol Flyn and so many others.
The list of celebrities is very long and it has been like that for decades now. Today holiday makers can enjoy one of the best restaurants not only in terms of the food but also in terms of character. Its bar is very intimate, small and cosy and like in many other bars in Havana music is always played by a small traditional Cuban band.
Many people spend time chatting in this site which is always amusing due to the presence of guitarists and singers, as it has happened for more than six decades, when its founder Angel Martinez (deceased), used to personally inquire about the likes of his guests.
A word of advice is to find a hotel in the old town, there are about 15 of them and they are very small, cosy and boutique hotels with very affordable prices. Santa Isabel and Florida hotels have both the best standard of service and location. Every thing you need to do or see will be walking distance from your hotels. At the end of the day you do not want the hassle of having to take taxis while on your holidays.
Today is known as Cathedral Square and it is full of amazing features but in the past dating back to the 17th Century it was know as The Swamp Square. Looking at today's scenery it is very difficult to imagine marsh and floods ion this area. The fact is that it was used to supply the vessels anchored in the harbour with water and there was no construction whatsoever other than a huge pond filled with water coming from the only aqueduct in the 17th Century.
The name is due to a large cathedral built first as oratory of the Hijos de San Ignacio, of the Jesuit order, which first stone was placed in 1748. After three decades the oratory was built, the Cathedral was already functioning, and between 1802 and 1832, important restoration works were made. Beautifully decorated, with important works and copies made by the French Jean Baptiste Vermay, it is a place worth visiting.
As an additional touch, since 1994, as an initiative of the tourist company Habaguanex S.A., its square holds dinners, official gatherings and for amusement too (chosen by important enterprises and agencies), related to travel and emblematic products such as the Habanos. The view is marvellous, to a very well preserved architecture, the cultural richness of the Cuban and the food-making in the restaurants in the surroundings.
Just few seconds walk you can find La Bodeguita del Medio, restaurant that together with El Floridita have become the most famous and emblematic restaurants not only in Cuba but also around the world. The specialty of the restaurant is the Cuban cuisine and its walls are engraved with autographs of numerous famous celebrities such as Ernest Hemingway, Mario Benedetti, Pablo Neruda or Errol Flyn and so many others.
The list of celebrities is very long and it has been like that for decades now. Today holiday makers can enjoy one of the best restaurants not only in terms of the food but also in terms of character. Its bar is very intimate, small and cosy and like in many other bars in Havana music is always played by a small traditional Cuban band.
Many people spend time chatting in this site which is always amusing due to the presence of guitarists and singers, as it has happened for more than six decades, when its founder Angel Martinez (deceased), used to personally inquire about the likes of his guests.
A word of advice is to find a hotel in the old town, there are about 15 of them and they are very small, cosy and boutique hotels with very affordable prices. Santa Isabel and Florida hotels have both the best standard of service and location. Every thing you need to do or see will be walking distance from your hotels. At the end of the day you do not want the hassle of having to take taxis while on your holidays.
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