Plaza de la Catedral

Havana has five major plazas, a few have already been restored and others are in various stages of renovation.  Plaza de la Catedral was my favorite, completed in 1787 and anchored by a spectacular church on the eastern wall where it was falsely reported Columbus' bones were buried. The splendor of this square was unexpected when I first encountered it from a narrow side street.  The facades of former mansions (now museums), covered stone archways, and blue shuttered balconies were reminders the city's rich and cultured history.  One night after dinner on a nearby street, we wandered into the square where a compelling art exhibition projected on the facade of one of the museums exploded like vibrant fireworks.