His name is Taíno, which is an Arawakan language, but nothing else is known. It is not clear where the name derived from, but it has been theorized that the appellation derives from Habaguanex, who was a chief of the Native American tribe. Habana was the name of the local people group. In 1514, Diego Velázquez founded the city San Cristóbal de la Habana, which meant ' Saint Christopher of the Habana' and later became the capital of Cuba. As typical of Cuba, Havana experiences a tropical climate. The city is also noted for its history, culture, architecture and monuments. Old Havana was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.

The city attracts over a million tourists annually the Official Census for Havana reports that in 2010 the city was visited by 1,176,627 international tourists, a 20% increase from 2005. The Almendares River traverses the city from south to north, entering the Straits of Florida a few miles west of the bay. The city extends mostly westward and southward from the bay, which is entered through a narrow inlet and which divides into three main harbors: Marimelena, Guanabacoa and Antares. Ĭontemporary Havana can essentially be described as three cities in one: Old Havana, Vedado and the newer suburban districts. In 2009, the city/province had the third highest income in the country. The governor is Reinaldo García Zapata of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC). The city is the center of the Cuban government, and home to various ministries, headquarters of businesses and over 100 diplomatic offices. Walls as well as forts were built to protect the city. Philip II of Spain granted Havana the title of capital in 1607. It served as a springboard for the Spanish conquest of the Americas, becoming a stopping point for Spanish galleons returning to Spain. The city of Havana was founded by the Spanish in the 16th century. The city has a population of 2.3 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of 728.26 km 2 (281.18 sq mi) – making it the largest city by area, the most populous city, and the fourth largest metropolitan area in the Caribbean region.

The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center. Havana ( / h ə ˈ v æ n ə/ Spanish: La Habana ( listen)) is the capital and largest city of Cuba.

Old havana