El Templete

Although rarely mentioned among Havana’s major tourist landmarks, El Templete is one of the capital’s most significant historical sites. Inaugurated in 1828, this small Greco-Roman temple, with its miniature Pantheon look, was the city’s first neoclassical public building. It was built to commemorate two key moments in Havana’s history: the first Catholic mass held in 1519, and the founding of the city’s first municipal council — both said to have taken place on this spot. According to legend, this is where Havana was founded. Every year, on the evening before November 16th, locals gather here to celebrate the anniversary of Havana’s founding. They walk around the symbolic Ceiba tree three times, paying tribute to the original tree that once stood here. You can’t miss it — its sheer size and impressive spread makes it a striking presence.