Havana to celebrate its 506th anniversary

Those who visit Havana during the anniversary celebrations will enjoy a city reinventing itself to commemorate its existence. On November 16, marking 506 years since it’s founding, the Historic Center of Havana will become a mosaic of cultures with the arrival of Belgian, Japanese, and Italian Weeks, and a program of festivities combining art, architecture, music and tradition.

At a press conference, the opportunity to admire the exhibition “100 Years of Art Deco: From Brussels to Havana” was announced, opening on the 13th at Nodo Habana. The exhibition establishes a visual dialogue between two cities that share the elegance of Art Deco, and is complemented by Archi BXL, a creation of the artist Gaspard Giersé.

New spaces to discover

The city expands its cultural map with unique spaces: the exhibition hall on the third floor of the Convent of San Francisco de Asís, the Mirador Tower of the Casa de los Árabes, with its privileged views, and the FuturLab in the Old Model of Havana, an innovative space that invites visitors to imagine the city of the future.

Meanwhile, the program includes memorable moments such as a special gala on November 15; the traditional walk around the Ceiba tree, accompanied by the words of writer Nancy Morejón; the exhibition “Legacy and Memory” at Casa Leal, which reveals the rehabilitation process of the Historic Center; and the “Reflections of Havana” space at the Museum of Colonial Art, where the Vitria workshop showcases the magic of stained glass.

Fidelity and Loyalty: A symbolic tribute

The campaign framing these celebrations is titled “Fidelity and Loyalty,” evoking the relationship between Havana City Historian Eusebio Leal and the historical leader of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro, as explained by Magda Resik, director of Communications for the Office of the City Historian. This idea is inspired by the gesture of exchanging a handkerchief and a tie with the phrase: “Take my loyalty, and I will keep your fidelity.”

Beyond the celebrations: Solidarity

The Office of the City Historian is extending its reach to communities affected by Hurricane Melissa, beginning with El Cobre. As Deputy Director General Perla Rosales pointed out, this humanist vocation reflects the legacy of Eusebio Leal and transforms the celebration into an act of solidarity that transcends the cultural sphere.

With these initiatives, Havana reaffirms its place as one of the most vibrant cultural destinations in the Caribbean, where each celebration is also a gesture of remembrance, art and social commitment.