The most beautiful natural sites to discover La Havane

The birth of the Parque Central dates back to the 19th century, when it was part of the great extra-muros Paseo. Located on the border between Old Havana and the Centro Habana neighborhood, it reached its current dimensions - about 1,000 square meters - after the wall was torn down in 1877. Its current appearance dates back to 1927, when it was completely remodeled, especially due to the construction of the Capitol. Today, the Central Park is part of an interesting urban complex that includes buildings of great historical and artistic value. In the center stands the statue of José Martí. Designed by Cuban sculptor José Vilalta de Saavedra, it weighs 36 tons and is 10 meters high. The 28 palms evoke the date of birth of José Martí (January 28, 1853). This white marble monument, the first one dedicated to Cuba's national hero, was inaugurated by General Máximo Gómez, Martí's comrade in struggle, on February 24, 1905, on the tenth anniversary of the beginning of the last war of independence. Nowadays, as in the past, the park is a place of meetings, often noisy and agitated: this is where baseball fans, of which there are many, meet and defend their opinions, often with such ardor that you'll probably get the impression that they're arguing... Families also come to mingle with the park's population to enjoy an ice cream while taking in the fresh air at dusk. An iconic square.

It is in fact the largest park in the capital with its 670 hectares, where there is an amphitheatre (2 400 seats), a lake, an aquarium, an open-air library, a riding school and sports grounds. Don't miss the statue of Lenin. A narrow, narrow steam train (trencito) runs the park tower (9 km) by making a few stops, including near the swimming pool.

This square - Parque de Los Martires (Martyrs' Park) - used to house the Cárcel de La Habana (Havana Prison), of which only two cells and the chapel where those condemned to death spent their last moments remain. It was built between 1834 and 1838, on the initiative of Captain General Don Miguel de Tacón, a governor fiercely opposed to any independence for the island, before being destroyed in 1939. Among its famous tenants was the great José Martí. Today, the park is a pleasant place to take a breath of fresh air.

This place owes its name to a historic event: in 1928, it hosted the 6 ^th Pan-American Conference. A tree of Fraternité (Ceiba) is planted in the land by representatives of the 21 participating countries. You will also see busts of some of the great men in the history of the American continent, including Simón Bolívar (Venezuela), José de San Martín (Argentina), Benito Juarez (Mexico), José Artigas (Uruguay), Francisco Morazán (Honduras), Alexandre Petionville (Haiti) and Abraham Lincoln (United States).

This park occupies a modest space, but it is located near the busiest area of Havana. There you will find a curious sculpture representing a Don Quixote, undressed (or, one could write, timeless and universal) on his Rossinante, which, for once, is rearing up. Sancho Panza, the companion of Cervantes' hero, is absent, but other monuments are dedicated to him in various places in the capital. A small emblematic square that attracts Cubans at any time of the day. Perfect for an ice cream or soda stop!

The square, dedicated to the memory of the Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, who was one of the main actors in the Mexican revolution of 1910 against President Porfirio Díaz, and then the civil war following his departure in exile in 1911. The park, pleasant for a walk, has centuries-old trees with air roots.