Trinidad, Cuba

Trinidad was founded by Diego Velazquez in 1514 and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. The original cobblestone streets and pastel coloured houses give the impression that time has scarcely moved on since Colonial times.

From the 1600's to the 1800's, the city was a major centre for the trade in both sugar and slaves and the buildings around the Plaza Mayor, the heart of Trinidad, bear witness to the wealth of the landowners at the time.

A long period of isolation from the 1850's to the 1950's protected the city from any radical new building and the original town layout has been left largely unchanged. The historic centre, from where this picture was taken, has been skilfully restored, down to the details such as the street lights, the electricity cabling and, of course, the vintage cars.