The old square appeared on the map of Havana between 1584 and 1590 as a place for recreation and leisure for the townspeople, although the square acquired its present form only by the 18th century, when arcades were built along the perimeter.

Initially, it was called Plaza Nueva, that is, New Square, but with the loss of its significance as a place of rest in the 19th century, it received the name Plaza Vieja - Old Square. This place perfectly conveys all the originality of Cuban architecture, here European baroque, neoclassicism and modernism are intertwined in a manner peculiar only to Cuba. In this regard, the most interesting are the Casa del Conde de Casa Lombillo (1745), which today is an art gallery; the 18th-century Casa de Mercaderes, now a photography library; as well as the early 19th century Casa de las Hermanas Gardenas, which today houses the Center for the Development of the Visual Arts, and the Casa del Conde de San Juan de Jaruco (1737), which served as a place for important meetings and audiences.