Havana is the capital city of Cuba, the Caribbean’s largest island nation.
Founded by Spanish colonists in 1519, Havana developed around its protected natural harbor on Cuba’s northwestern coast. Its full official name is La Habana, and the city is also commonly called Ciudad de La Habana in historical contexts.
Havana became an important port for Spanish ships crossing between the Americas and Europe. Its old defensive buildings, including Castillo de la Real Fuerza and Castillo del Morro, reflect that maritime role. Old Havana and its Fortification System became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.
Havana is Cuba’s political, cultural, and commercial center. Santiago de Cuba is the country’s second-largest city and an important historical center, but it is not the national capital.