The Cuban archipelago, known worldwide for its nature, culture and history, benefits from its patrimonial values to develop the tourist industry.

Traditional sun and beach options, including hundreds of kilometers of beaches of white sand and crystal-clear water, are complemented by the architectural wealth brought by the Spanish conquistadors, and the European influence that prevailed after the colonial period.

In that regard, Havana, the Cuban capital and one of the first seven villages founded by Conquistador Diego Velazquez, has become a major destination for thousands of foreign tourists who visit the city, especially its historic heart, every year.

Old Havana was designated Humankind's Cultural Heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It covers an area of 4.5 square kilometers marked by Spanish architecture and nearly-five-century-old customs and traditions.

The heart of the Cuban capital holds a collection of castles, fortresses and buildings of high patrimonial value, constructed around a system of squares and mixed with monasteries and temples.

Those squares characterized the so-called walled city, especially Arms Square, Cathedral Square, Old Square, Christ's Square and that of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Havana, also called the Key to the New World, is a living museum showing a wide range of architectural styles that reflect the different stages of the city's development.

Old buildings house small hotels and other facilities such as Old Havana's Aquarium, which covers an area of 120 square meters and holds some 70 freshwater species of fish, plants, mollusks and crustaceans.

These species are distributed in seven tanks grouped according to different geographic zones of the planet, including Cuba, Africa, Latin America, South America and other zones.

The National Capitol, the former venue of the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic, shows characteristic elements such as a 90-meter-high dome, which is visible from all over the city.

Under the dome stands a bronze statue that represents the Republic and is covered with gold. It is 14 meters high and weighs 30 tons. It is the world's third tallest statue indoors.

The Lost Steps Hall, conceived for official ceremonies, is 15 meters wide, 48 meters long and nearly 20 meters high.