Havana Cathedral anchors the Plaza de la Catedral in Habana Vieja, at 156 Empedrado. Jesuits began it in the late 1740s, and it gained cathedral status in the 1780s. Visitors come for one of the Americas’ most celebrated Cuban Baroque facades, which novelist Alejo Carpentier called “music set in stone.”
The undulating front is carved from coral limestone, and fossilized shells and marine imprints still show in the blocks. Its two bell towers are unequal, with one noticeably wider than the other, an asymmetry often linked to the plaza’s drainage and street layout. Inside, the mood shifts to a restrained neoclassical interior remodeled in the early nineteenth century. Its altar paintings are copies of works by Rubens and Murillo, credited to French painter Jean-Baptiste Vermay. From 1796 to 1898, the cathedral held remains attributed to Christopher Columbus before they were moved to Seville.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Arrive in the early morning, before cruise and tour groups fill the plaza. The facade looks best in late-afternoon light. Opening hours change often, and Sunday mass limits sightseeing, so confirm hours locally on the day of your visit. When the bell tower is open, a small fee lets you climb it for rooftop views over Old Havana. Dress modestly. Around the square, look for the Museo de Arte Colonial in the Palacio de los Condes de Casa Bayona and the Casa del Conde de Lombillo. La Bodeguita del Medio is a short walk along Empedrado.
