Havana, Cuba

The vibrant architecture in Havana is a legacy of the colonial era and the settlers who called the city home. The homes in Old Havana, for instance, display Dutch, English, French, and Spanish architectural influences. In Havana, almost half of the structures are painted in pastel shades of pink, yellow, and "colonial blue." The Mudéjar style, a Hispanic-Arabic influence brought by the Spanish colonialists, is what stands out the most, as evidenced by the tall arches and tilework of the buildings.

Havana combines the old and the new. The five plazas and the pastel-colored buildings that surround them all contribute to Havana's personality and allure. As you stroll through its streets, you're likely to see intriguing and lovely examples of how this city combines the contemporary way of life with the traditional colonial architecture of its ancestors. It should come as no surprise that Jazz music, along with the classic cars that can be seen driving through the neighborhood, is one of its defining characteristics.