Plaza Vieja

Like many European cities, Havana was several "plazas" or "squares".  Each square has its own flavour.  These plazas comprised the ecclesiastical centre of Havana and are replete with churches and convents.  The family that I was staying with lives just a couple of blocks south of Plaza Vieja.

Plaza Vieja (Old Square) was the last of the four main squares to be laid out in Habana Vieja and it originally hosted a covered market.  It is surrounded by mansions and apartment blocks where, in colonial times, the residents looked down on executions and bullfights.  Like much of Habana Vieja,  Plaza Vieja sank into disrepair and today the restoration efforts are very evident with buildings becoming boutiques, restaurants, museums and luxury apartments.  Today modern sculptures grace the square, including a bronze figure of a bald naked woman riding a rooster (by Roberto Fabelo).

 The old Palacio Vienna Hotel is in the background.  It is an amazing piece of Gaudiesque art nouveau architecture dating from the turn of the 20th century.  It is being restored as a deluxe hotel.

Plaza Vieja at night, and in fact this restaurant is the first (and currently only) micro-brewery in Havana.