The Spanish have established at least two…

The Spanish have established at least two different settlements on the north coast of Cuba between 1514 and 1519, one of them in La Chorrera, today in the neighborhoods of Vedado and Miramar, next to the Almendares River.

The town that will become Havana finally originates  in 1519 adjacent to what is at this time called Puerto de Carenas (literally, "Careening Bay").

The quality of this natural bay, which now hosts Havana's harbor, warrants this change of location.

The city will soon become an important naval and commercial center for the Spanish colonies in the Caribbean.

Pánfilo de Narváez will gave Havana—the sixth town founded by the Spanish on Cuba—its name: San Cristóbal de la Habana.

The name combines San Cristóbal, patron saint of Havana, and Habana, of obscure origin, possibly derived from Habaguanex, a Native American chief who controlled that area, as mentioned by Diego Velásquez in his report to the king of Spain.

Shortly after the founding of Cuba's first cities, the island serves as little more than a base for the Conquista of other lands.