Bird’s Eye View of the City of Havana, Cuba

A detailed woodcut view of the ‘Paris of the Antilles’ from the mid-19th century

“On the page herewith we present a bird’s eye view of the city itself, which will give the reader a very correct and tangible idea of Havana…With an enormous extent of public buildings, cathedrals, antique and venerable churches and convents, with the palaces of nobles, and private gentlemen of wealth, all making this capital of Cuba the richest place for its number of square rods in the world. It is surrounded by a high wall and ditch, and its gates are always strictly guarded by soldiery. The streets, which are extremely narrow, are all McAdamized, and cross each other at right angles, having no sidewalks, unless a little line of flagstones may be so called. Indeed, the people have little use for them, for they drive almost universally in the peculiar vehicle of the island, called a ‘volante'” [Accompanying text]

This interesting view of Havana, Cuba was published in Gleason’s Pictorial Drawing Room Companion in London in 1854. Britain briefly controlled the city after a successful 1762 invasion during the Seven Years’ War, but it was returned as part of the Treaty of Paris. Economic interests remained, however, and Havana flourished as a center of trade, becoming known as the ‘Paris of the Antilles’ in the early 19th century.

The image shows the city looking north from the port, with numerous sailing ships (both commercial and military) plying the waters. Several forts can be seen scattered throughout, including the iconic Castillo De Los Tres Reyes Del Morro. Less than a decade after publication, Havana’s walls were knocked down to make way for further urban growth.

Source: Old Havana and its Fortification System (UNESCO)