The University of Havana was founded in 1728, making it one of the oldest universities in the Americas. Its current hilltop campus dates mostly from the early 20th century — an elegant neoclassical precinct with a grand staircase (escalinata) that has been a stage for student protest since before the revolution. Fidel Castro studied law here in the 1940s and was already politically active on campus.
The staircase leading up from San Lázaro street is one of the iconic images of Havana. The campus itself is open to visitors during university hours — walk through the central courtyard, visit the small natural history museum, and climb to the neoclassical portico for views over Centro Habana and the harbour. The campus occupies the borderland between Vedado, Centro Habana, and Nuevo Vedado, making it a natural stopping point on any cross-city walk.