Calle Obispo (Bishop Street), Havana

Calle Obispo (Bishop Street), Havana (must see)

Widely regarding as one of the busiest streets in Old Havana, Bishop's Street is part of the historic city center, filled to the brim with plethora of shops, art galleries, hotels, restaurants, live music bars and a regular crowd of people. The street is lined with four- and five-story buildings which block out most of the sunlight and altogether give the place a great deal of character.

It is called Bishop Street after two famous bishops lived here. Bishop Fray Jeronimo de Lara lived here in 1641 and another bishop Pedro Agustin Morell de Santa Cruz, used to traverse the street regularly from his nearby home.

One of the most notable sights here, from both aesthetic and architectonic standpoints, is the Ministry of Finances and Prices, formerly center of the banking triangle, back in the early 20th century colloquially referred to as the Havana Wall Street.

Among other attractions is the Florida Hotel and Ambos Mundos Hotel. Hotel Ambos Mundos sits on the corner of Calle Obispo and Mercaderes. This hotel is famous for hosting renowned author Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway lived in the hotel from 1932 to 1939 and began his novel For Whom the Bell Tolls while staying at Hotel Ambros Mundos. Today, Hemingway's room, Number 511, is set up as a small Hemingway museum. The room is decorated and laid out as it was when Hemingway lived there and is available for tours.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Havana. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Calle Obispo (Bishop Street) on Map

Sight Name: Calle Obispo (Bishop Street)
Sight Location: Havana, Cuba (See walking tours in Havana)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Havana, Cuba

Create Your Own Walk in Havana

Create Your Own Walk in Havana

Creating your own self-guided walk in Havana is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Old Town Walking Tour

Old Town Walking Tour

The Spanish founded Havana in 1519. After French pirate Jacques de Sores ransacked the city in 1555, the Castle of the Royal Force was built to protect the city.

Havana became a major stopping point between the newly discovered Americas and ancient Europe. In the 1600s, Havana was a major shipbuilding port.

Old Havana is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The historic city has five...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Old Palaces Walking Tour

Old Palaces Walking Tour

Havana has been the seat of Cuba’s ruling gentry for centuries. Today, you can walk the streets of Old Havana and explore its palaces to get a glimpse into the city’s royal past. Although these structures now serve Havana’s citizens and visitors, they still catch your eye (and your camera lens!) with their architecture and history.

Start your trip with the ornate Presidential Palace,...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Hemingway's Havana Walking Tour

Hemingway's Havana Walking Tour

Ever since Hemingway first visited Cuba in 1928 until his death in 1961, he felt an intense connection with the people and culture of Cuba. Hemingway lived at Hotel Ambos Mundos during the 1930s, and began, wrote, and finished several novels there. Today, you can see some of Hemingway's belongings in Room 511.

Hemingway was a frequent patron at El Floridita, famous for its daiquiris....  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
Historical Churches and Cathedrals Walking Tour

Historical Churches and Cathedrals Walking Tour

Discovered and conquered by Spanish colonists in the early 16th century, Havana has turned into a major religious center of Catholicism in the Caribbean. Although a communist regime is currently in power, many of the churches, cathedrals, and other religious buildings have been preserved and still give a glimpse of the city’s religious heritage.

The old Havana Cathedral, located in a...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles

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