Plaza Vieja and the changing face of Old Havana
Published on 08/25/2026 at 08:20 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Plaza Vieja in Havanna is a square shaped by layers of colonial urban life, from its 1559 origins as Plaza Nueva to its later life as an architectural ensemble in Old Havana. Its centre is framed by arcades, balconies and façades from different centuries, with the Palace of the Counts of Jaruco standing among the best-known buildings.
Plaza Vieja’s colonial layers
The square emerged as an open space in 1559, and it later took the name Plaza Vieja when another market square took shape elsewhere in the city. The 1559 origin and the long sequence of names belong to the square’s identity as much as its paving and façades.
The surrounding buildings present a mixed urban frontage rather than a single uniform face. Colonial buildings from the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries appear alongside later examples, which gives the square a layered street wall.
Stone, balconies and the palace on the corner
The Palace of the Counts of Jaruco dates from 1738 and sits at the angle formed by Muralla and San Ignacio. It shows a transition from Spanish mudéjar forms to Baroque features, with timber ceilings, turned woodwork and mural painting inside.
That building is one of the clearest anchors in the square, because it links Plaza Vieja to a named house, a named year and a recognisable colonial style. Palacio de los Condes de Jaruco remains part of the square’s architectural character, while the older and newer façades around it keep the ensemble visually varied.
From market square to heritage setting
Plaza Vieja spent centuries as a civic space used for markets, processions and public gatherings. In colonial Havana, it formed part of the city’s social and commercial core rather than a purely ceremonial setting.
The square’s later designation as part of Old Havana’s World Heritage landscape gives it a formal place in the city’s historic centre. UNESCO status sits comfortably beside the street-level reality of arcaded fronts, upper galleries and a compact urban plan.
Visiting Plaza Vieja: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The square lies in Old Havana, within the historic centre of Havanna. It is reached on foot through the surrounding streets of Habana Vieja.
- The area is flat, with paved surfaces and narrow urban edges defined by the surrounding buildings. The square reads as a compact, enclosed civic space.
- Muralla, Mercaderes, Teniente Rey and San Ignacio border the square. Those names help with orientation when moving through the surrounding quarter.
- The official language is Spanish and the currency is the Cuban peso. Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Plaza Vieja on social platforms
These links open searches for Plaza Vieja on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Plaza Vieja
Where is Plaza Vieja?
Plaza Vieja is in Old Havana, the historic core of Havanna. It sits among the streets that frame the colonial centre.
What does a visit involve?
The place is an urban square rather than a single monument, so the main experience is the surrounding architecture. Arcades, balconies and corner buildings define the setting.
What makes Plaza Vieja distinctive?
The square combines a mid-sixteenth-century origin with later colonial buildings and named houses such as the Palace of the Counts of Jaruco. That combination gives it a layered urban character.
