Iglesia Y Convento de Santa Clara

This huge construction - which covers four city blocks - was the first nunnery in Habana. Built from 1638 to 1643, it was founded by nuns from Cartagena de Indias. Look out for the marvelous beamed ceiling in the nave, and the handsome columns and pleasing arches in the main cloister. Among the many residences here is the Casa del Marino (Sailor’s House), in the second cloister. According to records, this house (the current residence of academics) was built by a pirate-turned-respectable-shipowner who gave the building to his devout daughter. Ceasing to be a convent in 1920, the Santa Clara became the Ministry of Public Works. Today the team in charge of the restoration of colonial Habana is based here, and the complex also offers a small guesthouse, the Residencia Académica de Santa Clara, one of Habana Vieja’s cheapest budget hotels.