San Francisco de Asís Square, Old Havana

Tour Plaza de San Francisco de Asís (San Francisco de Asis Square), famous for its antique charm and beauty in Old Havana, Cuba

San Francisco de Asís Square, Old Havana
© Guillaume Baviere

As visitors approach the Plaza de San Francisco de Asís (San Francisco de Asís Square), they can basque in the sight of historic buildings, restaurants with outdoor seating, the Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco de Asís (San Francisco de Asís Church), architectural works, and blend in with the cheerful locals and carefully placed greenery.

Plaza de San Francisco de Asís. Fuente de los Leones

San Francisco de Asís Square
© Robin Thom

The Plaza de San Francisco de Asís is one of the four main squares of Old Havana. The square was built in 1628 on unsteady land in a nearby cove. Towards the end of the 16th century, the site was meant to bring together the public through different social activities. As the activities in the square became more popular, a customs house, a prison, and the Franciscan church were built.

Over the years, the square has undergone additional changes: stone roads, the Fuente de los Leones (Lion Fountain), and the Caballero de Paris sculpture have been added inside the main square. The Fuente de los Leones is not the same as the one found in Granada, Spain. This Italian- designed fountain was carved out of white marble and stands near the bronze Caballero de Paris statue, which stands as a tribute to an unknown character who spoke to passerbyers in the plaza during the 1950s. The bronze sculpture was created by José María López Lledín. You can find it on the sidewalk in front of Plaza de San Francisco de Asís.

An area where Cuba’s maritime history, commercial, and social hubs meet, the Plaza de San Francisco de Asís continues to be a prominent cultural site in Old Havana. Once you have finished your tour around the square, you can visit the Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco de Asís, which houses the Museo de Arte Sacro (Museum of Religious Art and History), the Museo del Ron (Rum Museum), the Coche Mambí (Mambí Car), a 20th century American railway car, and the Museo Casa Alejandro de Humboldt (Alejandro de Humboldt House Museum), dedicated to the German scientist who lived in Cuba.

Visitors can also stop by the Lonja del Comercio (Commerce Market) and the Terminal de cruceros Sierra Maestra (Sierra Maestra Boat Terminal) where cruises arrive and depart from the island. Both sites, located near the square, are examples of exquisite Cuban architecture.

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