| Recently, for the first time in over 2,200 years the | | | | other main factories, La Corona and Romeo y Julieta |
| seven wonders of the world were reassessed. Over | | | | have shops attached which allow visitors to purchase |
| 100 million people voted and decided that the Great | | | | cigars as souvenirs. |
| Wall of China, Rome's Colosseum, Chichen Itza in | | | | Museo de la Ciudad |
| Mexico, Petra in Jordan, Machu Picchu in Peru, Rio's | | | | The building that now houses Havana's museum |
| Christ the Redeemer and the Taj Mahal would make | | | | treasures has a past that predates the revolution and |
| the best new wonders. | | | | evokes images of when Cuba was a non-Communist |
| Certainly narrowing down the finalists from an initial | | | | state. The building once housed the island's colonial |
| list of hundreds can have been no easy task - most | | | | governors and was the palace of the Captains |
| countries can probably compile a list of seven | | | | General. Built in 1791, the museum's exhibits give a |
| themselves. Cuba, which is of course my specialty (I | | | | feel of the history of Havana - from the city's |
| am the general manager of Captivating Cuba), has | | | | foundation to the present day. The museum naturally |
| many architectural and cultural triumphs worthy of | | | | devotes a sizable section to the Cuban wars for |
| celebration. Hell, even Havana itself has enough | | | | national independence, but also houses a diverse |
| aesthetic wonder and cultural heritage for me to wax | | | | range of other exhibits showcasing the island's art, |
| lyrical for several pages. In the interests of brevity | | | | porcelain, paintings, furniture, folklore and archaeology. |
| and in matching the arbitrary figure placed on the | | | | Capitolio Nacional |
| number of wonders allowed in one world, I shall limit | | | | An important landmark in the centre of Havana, the |
| my list to seven sites worth examining on a Havana | | | | Capitolio Nacional is an impressive site. It looks |
| holiday. | | | | remarkably similar to the US Capitol in Washington |
| Ladies and Gentlemen, I present (in no particular | | | | DC, and is now home to the National Library and |
| order) | | | | Academy of Sciences. Some of its rooms are also |
| The Seven Wonders of Havana | | | | used for state events, in a nod to its history where |
| Plaza de la Revolución | | | | it once seated members of the Cuban congress. |
| The enormous square has seen many political rallies | | | | Directly underneath the memorable dome, an |
| and the feel of history and importance of the area is | | | | imitation 24 carat diamond is set into the floor, which |
| tangible. The square's podium has seen many | | | | measures the distances between Havana and all |
| important political speeches from Fidel Castro and | | | | Cuba's other sites. |
| other prominent figures on important days in the | | | | Habana Vieja |
| Cuban calendar. While Castro is infamous for his long | | | | The old city was founded in 1519, and was often a |
| speeches, the public events always prove popular, | | | | target for pirates which explains the dilapidated, yet |
| attracting over 1,000,000 Cubans over the years. | | | | still imposing, remains of Havana's city walls. |
| The square is dominated by the impressive | | | | Nowadays the old city includes museums, hotels, |
| José Martí memorial - a tower in | | | | shops and restaurants to line the picturesque cobble |
| honour of a national hero killed in the 1895 Second | | | | stoned streets. The plazas are marked by |
| war of Independence. At 138 feet high, the imposing | | | | meticulously restored colonial buildings and attractive |
| structure is the highest point in the city and visitors | | | | churches, which make the perfect backdrop for |
| may take a lift to the very top of the building. Behind | | | | Havana's old city life as it goes by. The region also |
| the memorial are the offices of Fidel Castro himself, | | | | includes La Bodeguita Del Medio - a bar made famous |
| and opposite is the iconic image of Che Guevara that | | | | thanks to its patronage by Mr Ernest Hemingway. |
| marks the Ministry of the Interior's building - a staple | | | | Museo de la Revolución |
| sight on any Havana holiday. | | | | What used to be the Presidential Palace and Cuban |
| Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes | | | | Government's HQ is now fittingly a museum of the |
| This modern art museum is divided into two distinct | | | | revolution that saw them ousted. The building is still |
| part. The Collección de Arte Cubano is | | | | aesthetically astounding, but the insides have changed |
| dedicated to Cuban art created between the 16th | | | | to house pieces, photography and documents |
| and 20th century, while The Collección de | | | | pertaining to the Cuban Revolution. The building isn't |
| Arte Universal has a far wider scope. It includes art | | | | the only imposing sight upon approach to the |
| from Italian, French and Dutch painters as well as | | | | museum - out the front is the tank driven by Fidel |
| including artefacts from Latin America and ancient | | | | Castro during the Bay of Pigs battle, and behind is |
| Greece. | | | | the yacht that brought Che Guevara and Fidel Castro |
| Cigar Factories | | | | from Mexico to Cuba in 1956. |
| Cuba is practically synonymous with the word "cigars" | | | | Aside from these main aesthetic Cuban wonders, |
| and a visit to one of the three major Cuban cigar | | | | there are countless other things to do in Havana. It is |
| factories in Havana can give a good indication as to | | | | truly a magnificent city - a one of a kind mixture of |
| why. The three main factories give tours which allow | | | | 1950s America and Caribbean lifestyle. If you are |
| the visitors to see the hand rolled cigars in production. | | | | considering a holiday to Havana, this list will really help |
| Partagas is the oldest factory (founded in 1827) and | | | | you get into the Cuban spirit and gain an insight into |
| keeping with tradition hires a reader to entertain the | | | | the rich history of the city. |
| workers by reading aloud. Partagas and the two | | | | |