Plaza de San Francisco is one of the four great squares of Old Havana — a cobblestone plaza facing the harbour, dominated by the 16th-century Basilica of San Francisco de Asís, whose 42-metre bell tower was for centuries the tallest structure in Havana and the first landmark visible to ships entering the bay. The plaza was Havana's main commercial square during the Spanish colonial period, when it adjoined the original customs house and galleons from Spain and Mexico would unload silver and goods directly onto the square.
The Basilica is now a concert hall (the church's religious functions moved elsewhere in the 19th century) with exceptional acoustics for chamber music — the Lunes de la Música series on Monday evenings is one of the best classical music programs in Havana. The bronze statue of El Caballero de París (a street philosopher who wandered Havana in the 1930s-40s) stands in the square and is traditionally touched on the beard for good luck.
Verified Facts
The basilica's bell tower is 42 metres tall
It was Havana's tallest structure for centuries
The basilica is now a concert hall
El Caballero de París was a famous 20th-century Havana street character
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San Francisco Square, La Habana Vieja, Havana, Cuba
