Old Havana – Of Vintage Charm And Bohemian Vibrancy

Utter Old Havana and it will conjure up images of the Spanish Guitar and the subtle notes that would create a world of vintage beauty and careless charm! Noted under the UNESCO World Heritage Site, this place has a rather palpable past. The Rumba riffs simply roll through the picturesque narrow cobbled squares. Walk around and you'll find the vintage cars plying the streets along with the museums, old forts and best restored architectural gems that make Old Havana a grand city. Travelers, that want to explore this city in a budget friendly manner, can buy cheap airfare from airfarenetwork.com to Old Havana and save big.

If you're hoping for a more sensory feast, the city needs to be explored on foot. Walk idly through the narrow lanes, get speaking with the locals and climb the Spanish fortresses as well as feel the rhythm of the music that sometimes is played on the streets by the musicians and you'll be able to absorb the real essence of Old Havana.

Here are three best places to explore in Old Havana

The Plaza De La Cathedral

This cathedral steals every tourists attention owing to its namesake i.e. Catedral de San Cristobal. This place is also called the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary of Immaculate Conception and is one of the finest specimens of the Cuban Baroque architecture that got completed back in the 1777 by none other than the Franciscans post the Jesuits started to build the cathedral 29 years back. Here you will find two huge bell towers that comfortably flank the facade and this is also adorned with inlaid columns. When travellers flock here its best to roam around and also marvel at the vaulted ceilings as well as the figurine of St. Christopher.

The Plaza Vieja

It is said that this place has experience several versions of renovations and is one of the most lively gathering spots on Old Havana. Initially, established back in the mid 16th century, this square once used to be a place where military exercises were carried on. Here you will find an eclectic blend of restored buildings that spans from Art Nouveau to Cuban Baroque architecture.

Calle Obispo

Steeped in history, entertainment and refined architecture the Calle Obispo is a popular Cuba-wide. This narrow street that links the Central Park with the Plaza de Armas has an innate vibrancy of its own. The travelers flock to this place in order to visit the best of restaurants here that also comprises of the El Floridita. That aside, the visitors can also embrace the vibrant ambience and have a look at the architecture that is mostly Cuban Baroque in style. Few other things to explore here is the Hotel Ambos Mundos that is known to be home to Earnest Hemingway for about 7 years as well as the Taquechel Pharmacy Museum that has been offering herbal remedies for over a century.