Cuba has nine UNESCO World Heritage sites
Two UNESCO World Heritage sites in Cuba were recognized for their ecological significance. One is Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, which is located on the island's east coast and is known for its indigenous flora and fauna as well as its complicated lithology. The other is Desembarco del Granma National Park, which is located in the island's east and is known for its sea cliffs and limestone marine terraces.
Seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites were selected for their cultural significance. Old Havana (Habana Vieja) was the first Cuban monument to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is noteworthy for its historic architecture and complete defenses. The Viales Valley, located in western Cuba, is famous for its traditional farming practices. The historic town centers of Cienfuegos, Camagüey, and Trinidad in central Cuba have all been designated by UNESCO. The latter got its designation in conjunction with the neighboring Valley of the Sugar Mills (Valle de los Ingenios), three connected valleys with several surviving historic structures, including several "barracones" where slaves were held. The Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca, a 17th century stronghold near Santiago, is located in eastern Cuba. Finally, there's the "Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in Cuba's South-East." The term is self-explanatory; there are some preserved vestiges of nineteenth and early twentieth century coffee farming practices.
It is also worth mentioning that three Cuban monuments are on the "tentative list" for UNESCO World Heritage designation. The National Art Schools (Escuelas Nacionales de Arte) in Havana, the Zapata Swamp (Ciénaga de Zapata) 100 miles southeast of Havana, and a location tentatively described as "Reef System in the Cuban Caribbean" are among them. The latter site encompasses a 500-mile cluster of several biologically related marine-coastal habitats on Cuba's southern coast, including various portions of coral reef.
