Cuba

Havana is the capital of Cuba. Located on the island’s northwest coast, it’s the largest city and the political, cultural, and economic center. Spain made Havana the capital in 1553, moving it from Santiago de Cuba because Havana’s deep natural harbor was ideal for protecting treasure fleets bound for Europe. To remember: the H’s—Havana, Harbor, Hub, and Habana (its Spanish name). Picture Old Havana (a UNESCO site) with its colonial forts and pastel streets, the Malecón seawall, and Plaza de la Revolución—landmarks that span Cuba’s history from colonial rule to the 1959 Revolution.