Exploring Havana: The culturally rich capital of Cuba

Since 1553, Havana has been the seat of Cuba's government. The capital of the Caribbean's largest island has always been a melting pot for people from all corners of the world. The result is an exhilarating blend of styles, periods in history and ideologies. Old Havana, the ancient section of the Caribbean's most culturally significant city, was inscribed in the UNESCO world heritage list in 1982. The town's towering emblem is El Capitolio, a virtual replica of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Havana Bay, with its large natural harbor, is considered to be the safest harbor in the world. As with all port cities, there's a spirit of openness that blows throughout Havana.

Havana's pulse surges with its people's love of life and music. Despite their worries and hardships of daily life, the Cubans still have an easy way about them that is both charming and positively contagious. Swing music and dancing is everywhere you turn. It's as if the city is saying "Now's the time to take life on with vigour and gusto." An inopportune moment or cramped quarters simply don't exist when salsa fever strikes. Those who can't or won't dance are in for quite a surprise, as in Havana there's just no refusing. The locals believe that those who dance salsa unquestionably understand the innate rhythms of the city. Havana - a city rich in history and culture, and bubbling with an electrifying love of life.