La Habana Vieja

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La Habana Vieja
Coordinates: 23 ° 8 ′  N , 82 ° 21 ′  W
Map: Cuba
marker
La Habana Vieja​
Location of La Habana Vieja
Basic data
Country CubaCuba Cuba
province Havana
Residents 87,772  (2012)
Detailed data
surface 4.37
Population density 20,085.1 inhabitants / km 2
height 20  m
Waters Florida Street
Post Code 10100
prefix + 53-07
Time zone UTC -5
Location of La Habana Vieja in Havana.
Location of La Habana Vieja in Havana.
Street in the unrestored part of Habana Vieja

La Habana Vieja ( Spanish for Old Havana ) is the historic core of the Cuban capital Havana .

La Habana Vieja belongs since 1982 to the UNESCO registered world heritage site .

history

The Plaza Vieja (Old Square)

The city of Havana was founded in 1519 as part of the Spanish Colonial Empire with a natural harbor on Havana Bay. It became an important stopover point for Spanish galleons laden with treasures from the New World en route to the Old World . In the 17th century the city was one of the largest shipyard centers . It was built in the baroque and neoclassical style.

Many buildings fell victim to decay after the Cuban revolution , but in a program launched in 1994, the district is being restored and developed for international tourism .

La Habana Vieja was destroyed and burned down by the French corsair Jacques de Sores . The pirate could take the city relatively easily and burn the remains. After the enemy fighters were appropriately decimated, de Sores left the city without finding the enormous treasures he had hoped for in the city. He left the city almost destroyed and set it on fire, whereupon it burned down almost to the ground.

As a result, the Spaniards increased their military presence in the city and began building fortresses and city ​​walls to protect the city. The first fortress to be built was the Castillo de la Real Fuerza in 1558 . The construction was directed by the engineer Bartolomé Sanchez . The course of the former city wall now forms the border of the La Habana Vieja district.

The architecture is reminiscent of that of Cádiz or Tenerife . In the old town there are all the historical monuments, the churches and monasteries, the palaces, the avenues, the arcades and the high population density. The fortresses are spread out in a ring around the old town. With the help of international donations, the Cuban state is making great efforts to preserve and reconstruct the buildings.

Attractions

Havana Cathedral
  • The fortress of San Salvador de la Punta is located on the opposite bank of the Castillo El Morro, at the beginning of the Malecón. It is not as large as the two forts above and was built between 1590 and 1629 to better defend the harbor. At night, a thick chain was stretched between El Morro and San Salvador de la Punta to prevent enemy ships from entering the bay.
  • The Castillo de la Real Fuerza served as a fortress for the Spanish Royal Army. It closes off the Plaza de Armas . The fortress was the first major city fortifications in Havana. Construction began in 1558 on the ruins of the old, destroyed fortress. In the same year, the Spanish crown sent the builder Bartolomé Sanchez along with 14 official stonemasons to Cuba to lead the reconstruction of the fortress, which was destroyed and set on fire by the corsair Jacques de Sores.
  • The Cathedral of San Cristóbal is the most striking building on the Plaza de la Catedral . Originally a chapel , it was built in 1748 on the orders of the Bishop of Salamanca , Jose Felipe de Trespalacios .
  • The Capitol was built on the model of the Paris Panthéon , looks similar to the US Capitol and served as the seat of the legislature until 1959 .
  • The Galician Center at Parque Central was built in the Wilhelmine style and served as a social club for Galician immigrants between 1907 and 1914 .
  • The Plaza de Armas ( Arms Square ) is one of the main tourist centers. The square owes its name to the military ceremonies that have been held here since the 16th century.
  • The Palacio de los Capitanes Generales on the Plaza de Armas is a former seat of government of Cuba and is considered to be one of the most outstanding examples of Cuban Baroque. Designed by engineer Antonio Fernández de Trebejos , the building was constructed from 1776 and inaugurated by Luis de las Casas y Aragorri in 1791 . It housed the Spanish colonial government until 1898, was the seat of the US intervention government from 1899 to 1902, and served as the seat of government of the Republic of Cuba from 1902 to 1920; it has housed the Havana City Museum since 1968.
  • The Teatro García Lorca is a world famous theater, also because of the celebrated National Ballet of Cuba and its founder Alicia Alonso . The theater also houses the largest concert hall in Cuba.
  • The Revolution Museum . It is located in the former presidential palace. The yacht Granma can be seen here.
  • Parque Central is a small city park across from the Capitol.
  • The Basilica Menor de San Francisco de Asis .

World Heritage

Old town and fortifications of Havana
UNESCO world heritage UNESCO World Heritage Emblem
National territory: CubaCuba Cuba
Type: Culture
Criteria : (iv) (v)
Surface: 238.7 ha
Buffer zone: 412.4 ha
Reference No .: 204
UNESCO region : Latin America and the Caribbean
History of enrollment
Enrollment: 1982  ( session 6 )

In 1982 Habana Vieja was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the fortifications . A corresponding campaign to preserve the authentic character of the buildings was started a year later.

f1Georeferencing Map with all coordinates of the world heritage components: OSM

UNESCO ID designation Size in ha Buffer zone in ha Coordinates
204-001 La Habana Vieja 214 23 ° 8 '9.4 "  N , 82 ° 21' 30"  W.
204-002 Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro 1.4 23 ° 9 ′ 1.5 ″  N , 82 ° 21 ′ 24 ″  W.
204-003 Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña 9.2 23 ° 8 ′ 50 ″  N , 82 ° 21 ′ 0 ″  W.
204-004 Hornabeque de San Diego 1.1 23 ° 8 ′ 51.2 "  N , 82 ° 20 ′ 12.8"  W.
204-005 Fuerte Nº1 0.35 23 ° 9 '30.8 "  N , 82 ° 20' 4.9"  W.
204-006 Torreón de San Lázaro 0.001 23 ° 8 ′ 29.8 "  N , 82 ° 22 ′ 26.7"  W.
204-007 Castillo de Santa Dorotea de Luna de la Chorrera 0.5 23 ° 7 ′ 55.3 "  N , 82 ° 24 ′ 34.3"  W.
204-008 Castillo de Cojímar 1.5 23 ° 10 '2.2 "  N , 82 ° 17' 40.8"  W.
204-009 Polvorín de San Antonio 5.2 23 ° 7 '10.7 "  N , 82 ° 20' 47.8"  W.
204-010 Castillo de Santo Domingo de Atarés 0.5 99.2 23 ° 7 '12.8 "  N , 82 ° 21' 40.7"  W.
204-011 Castillo del Príncipe 5 11.2 23 ° 7 '50.9 "  N , 82 ° 23' 9.7"  W.

Trivia

The thaw in political relations was used in the spring of 2015 to document a message of peaceful coexistence between all peoples. The central location in front of the former San Francisco de Asís monastery in Old Havana was chosen for an exhibition by the United Buddy Bears . 128 country bears stood 'hand in hand' and symbolized the message of peaceful coexistence.

Twin cities

Web links

Commons : Havana Vieja  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Frank Herbst, Cuba - Handbook for individual travel, Reise Know-How Verlag 2006
  2. ^ Rayda Mara Suárez, Eusebio Leal Spengler Portal: Palacio de los Capitanes Generales . In: Andar . tape II . Oficina del historiador Ciudad de la Habana / GEDEPSA (España), Habana 1996, p. 8-11 .
  3. ↑ List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites Old Havana and its Fortifications accessed on July 21, 2008
  4. ↑ Weltspiegel: Cuba - Change through rapprochement
  5. ↑ rbb Panorama: Berlin Buddy Bears in Havana 2015
  6. ^ Exhibition The Art of Tolerance