Discover Havana: 14 Fascinating Fun Facts About Cuba's Vibrant Capital City

1. Jesus Rocking Flip-Flops

When Jesus decided to break into the Cuban footwear scene, He made quite the fashion statement: The Christ of Havana, an impressive 20-meter tall and 320-ton statue, sports shoes modeled after the flip-flops worn by its Cuban sculptor, Jilma Madera, while working in Italy.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Chess Lovers' Paradise

In Havana, one doesn't simply walk into Mordor, but a chess-infused adventure with knights, rooks, bishops, and pawns at every corner: Havana, birthplace of legendary world chess champion José Raúl Capablanca, boasts a thriving chess culture with enthusiasts primarily gathering at Club Capablanca– making this enchanting city a kingpin in the global chess arena, despite limited resources and materials.
Source => thechessdrum.net

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=> Fun Facts about Miami

3. Miami Vice Meets Soviet Style

If Miami Vice and The Americans had a love child, it would be driving around Havana: The city's streets are filled with classic American cars from the 1950s, as well as Soviet-made Lada and Moskvitch models, all due to the U.S. trade embargo and Cuba's past alliance with the Soviet Union.
Source => bbc.com

4. Pirate-Approved Mojitos

Ahoy, me hearties! Gather 'round and raise your glasses for a tale of swashbuckling pirates, literary legends, and the birth of a classic cocktail: The Mojito is said to have its humble beginnings in the hands of Sir Francis Drake, the English pirate who mixed lime, sugar cane juice, and mint leaves to cure his crew's ailments. This refreshing concoction gained notoriety at La Bodeguita del Medio, a Havana bar frequented by none other than Ernest Hemingway, who is attributed with the famous quote, "My Daiquiri in El Floridita, My Mojito in La Bodeguita" – though its authenticity remains disputed, much like the treasured maps of yore.
Source => cocktailsmachine.com

5. Picasso-esque Neighborhood

Instead of "Pimp My Ride," imagine an eccentric Cuban artist going full "Picasso My Neighborhood" mode: For over four decades, artist Jose Fuster has transformed Havana's Jamainatas neighborhood into a dazzling mosaic wonderland called Fusterlandia, drawing inspiration from European masters like Picasso and Gaudi, as well as Caribbean culture and the people around him. At 73 years young, he continues to expand Fusterlandia and hopes that other aspiring artists will carry on his vibrant visual legacy.
Source => artsy.net

6. Rhythmic Musical Neverland

Some say Havana's streets are alive with the sound of music, while others claim the Cuban city's vibe is more like a reggaeton-infused, rhythmic Neverland: In reality, the truth lies in Havana's diverse street music scene, where African rhythms harmoniously blend with European melodies. One can stumble upon serenading bands on stilts or find themselves swaying to the beat in local cafes and bars like Sofia Restaurant, all combined to create the perfect blend of old, new, and always-sonorous Cuba.
Source => smart-travelling.org

7. Goddess of Gilded Glamour

If the Statue of the Republic in Havana's Capitolio Nacional could strut its stuff in the fashion world, it would easily be the gold-laced supermodel with a flair for Greek-inspired couture, leaving jaws dropped and whisperings of "who's that girl?": In reality, this 15-meter-tall statue (resting on a 2.5-meter-high plinth) is the third largest indoor statue in the world, with a glam 22-carat gold leaf exterior and weighing a whopping 49 tons. Cast in bronze in three pieces in Rome, the Creole Cuban Lily Valty was the muse for its young woman figure, while the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athena, provided the aspirational touch.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Havana's British Fashion Fling

When Havana took a short vacation from Spanish rule and dabbled in British fashion: The British captured and occupied the Cuban capital during the Seven Years' War, opening up trade with their colonies and leading to the Peace of Paris, which swapped Florida for Cuba, a decision later reversed by Spanish forces in 1781.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Revolutionary Ice Cream

Scoop there it is! Havana's got the ice cream game on lockdown, dishing out sweet scoops to thousands of taste-buds daily: Parque Coppelia, the world's largest ice cream parlour, serves around 30,000 customers a day, transforming the frozen delicacy into a symbol of Cuban revolutionary idealism by offering subsidized prices and communal enjoyment for people from all walks of life.
Source => bbc.com

10. Art Nouveau Extravaganza

When Art Nouveau met the cha-cha-cha in the architectural dance hall, the result was nothing short of a dazzling display of design virtuosity: Havana, Cuba claims the crown for having the largest stash of Art Nouveau masterpieces, with stunners like the Bacardi Building and the Casa de la Amistad flaunting their exquisite and opulent flair.
Source => tourepublic.com

11. Pirate-Proof Cannon Show

Ahoy there, mateys! In Havana, when the clock strikes 9, ye best be ready for a blast from the past that's sure to shiver your timbers: Every evening at the San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress, a cannon is fired as part of a centuries-old ceremony, originally signaling the closure of the city gates against pesky pirates. Nowadays, this delightful display of historic reenactment comes complete with guards donning vintage uniforms, making it a bombastic experience for locals and tourists alike!
Source => civitatis.com

12. Multi-talented Baseball Stadium

When people say, "go big or go home," Havana's Estadio Latinoamericano might just be the embodiment of that mantra: This behemoth of a baseball stadium basks in its double-life as not only the second largest of its kind in the world, but also as an illustrious entertainment hub for salsa-jiving performances and adrenaline-pumping boxing matches, all thanks to its groovy 1971 facelift.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

13. Willy Wonka's Chocolate Hideaway

If Willy Wonka decided to hide a golden ticket in the steamy streets of Havana, you'd probably find it in the Museo del Chocolate: a cocoa paradise where you can witness the magical process of chocolate-making, and indulge in mouth-watering cold chocolate drinks and delectable artisanal chocolates - but don't expect to take any treasures home, because the sizzling heat outside will make them vanish faster than you can say "Oompa Loompa"!
Source => tripadvisor.com

14. Hotel of Mobsters and Espionage

Once a hotspot for mobsters and even a pawn in Cold War espionage, the Hotel Nacional de Cuba has seen more plot twists than an M. Night Shyamalan movie marathon: This iconic Havana hotel not only housed FDR's special envoy during a 1933 coup but also hosted the notorious Havana Conference in 1946, attended by the likes of Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky. And during the Cuban Missile Crisis, anti-aircraft guns were set up on the hotel's site, with secret tunnels hidden beneath the very floors walked upon by glamorous guests.
Source => en.wikipedia.org