Havana
Havana - Kire Bo
Havana Vieja: Where History Beckons in Every Cobblestone
Havana Vieja, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, is a place where history’s echo reverberates through its winding streets. Founded in 1515 and elevated to the status of the capital in 1899, this historic enclave has borne witness to profound urban transformations over time.
The vestiges of its colonial past, marked by 400 years of Spanish dominion, persist more vividly in the residential quarters than in the toil-worn abodes of the southern regions. The twilight splendor of hotels and gambling houses during the era of U.S. hegemony paints a portrait of the bygone era. In the aftermath of the Spanish-American War, with the USA’s triumph, Cuba was transformed into a de facto American protectorate.
Fidel Castro’s armed struggle in 1959 overturned the Batista dictatorship and heralded agrarian reforms and nationalization of industries. In response, the United States severed diplomatic ties with Cuba and imposed an economic embargo, providing political and military support to Cuban exiles. Despite these pressures, Castro maintained leadership, firmly embedding a Marxist character in his revolution and aligning Cuba with the Soviet bloc.
Spanish colonial architecture survived in the face of American urban reorganization and the subsequent Castro era. This enduring charm, combined with Cuba’s breathtaking natural beauty and opalescent skies, has bestowed upon the country a coveted status as a tourist haven. However, the tourism industry often trod the path of postcard clichés, lending it a somewhat conformist character.
Havana, with its evident urban decay and peripheral dilapidation, confronts the gaze of all who venture here. Yet, it’s essential to underscore that, unlike many other places, this decline is not solely a result of neglect, but is profoundly affected by the economic embargo imposed by the United States since the 1960s, reiterated by each American president, except for a brief respite under Obama, albeit hampered by a Republican-controlled Congress.
In some instances, a form of gentrification has attempted to reclaim the ruins. However, on the whole, the dilapidation and ruin of once-majestic buildings are stark reminders of limited resources, both public and private. Cuba exports its finest minds—doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers—to the highest echelons of competence and expertise, yet remains a nation characterized by poverty.
