Havana is the capital of what country?

Havana is the capital of Cuba.

Known in Spanish as La Habana, Havana is Cuba’s largest city, principal port, and political center. It sits on the island’s northwestern coast beside a naturally sheltered harbor facing the Straits of Florida. That harbor helped the city become a strategic stopping point for Spanish ships traveling between the Americas and Europe.

The settlement was founded by Spanish colonists in the early 16th century and moved to its present location in 1519. Havana became Cuba’s capital in 1552, replacing Santiago de Cuba. Its defenses grew as the city’s wealth and importance attracted pirates and rival European powers; forts such as Castillo del Morro still overlook the harbor.

Old Havana, or La Habana Vieja, is famous for its colonial plazas, churches, and colorful historic buildings. UNESCO designated the historic center and its fortifications a World Heritage Site in 1982. A common mix-up is confusing Havana with Santiago de Cuba, which remains an important city but is not the national capital.