Genuine Gems of Havana

HAVANA CELEBRATES ITS FIRST 500 YEARS AND GRAN CARIBE TURNS 25 YEARS OLD, WILLING TO GO IN FOR THE "WONDER CITY", WHICH ALWAYS CAPTIVATES THE MOST DEMANDING VISITORS BY OFFERING TRULY MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN ITS FAMOUS HOTELS

Havana, the capital of the Republic of Cuba, is the most populated city on the island nation and of the entire insular Caribbean, with over 2 million inhabitants, who are part of the attractive and colorful options the city offers its visitors as a place teeming with street adventures in the middle of a kindhearted and safe environment.

Founded farther south in the spring of 1514 under the name of San Cristobal de La Habana, this wonderful city is the centerpiece of the country's social and cultural life, let alone being home to the nation's top cultural institutions. Tradition recognizes its date of birth back on November 16, 1519, when Spanish conquistador Diego Velazquez -on behalf of the kings of Spain- set up here its third and definitive settlement, the one we know today. Centuries later, just in 1982, UNESCO declared its historic center as World Heritage.

Within the framework of the New7 Wonders Cities initiative, Havana was voted one of the seven wonder cities of the world on December 7, 2014, in Dubai in recognition of the global diversity of its urban society. Laden with charms and bathed in history, the city sways majestically between old Havana and modern Havana. On both sides, Gran Caribe runs the most emblematic hotels in town.

Right in the heart of the colonial part, such hotels as the Inglaterra -National Heritage of the Republic of Cuba- the Plaza and Sevilla, all of them rich in patrimonial, cultural and historical values, stand tall. Staying in any of them is like traveling back in time.

The Hotel Nacional de Cuba -also National Heritage of Cuba, Memory of the World and National Monument- is a splendid standout right in the most modern part of town, where it rubs elbows with other gems like the Capri and Habana Libre hotels. With its spectacular architecture, these facilities melt harmoniously into an environment marked by the most sought-after movie theaters, performing arts halls and nightclubs, vivid witnesses of the city's nightlife.

On the west side of town, the Riviera Hotel reigns right across from the popular Malecon promenade. Also declared Heritage of the Republic of Cuba, the Riviera is home to valuable works of art that are thoroughly treasured in many of its halls and lounges. The same happens with the Presidente Hotel, the accommodation of choice for the talented stars that year after year attend the "Alicia Alonso" International Ballet Festival of Havana. Those who stay in it are definitely drawn by its comfort, luring architecture and history, not to mention a jaw-dropping collection of pieces and artifacts the hotel cherishes.

Hotel Plaza.

Hotel Deauville.