The Camera Obscura

Located on the Plaza Vieja on the top floor of the Edificio Gómez Vila is Havana’s Camera Obscura, an interesting optical device invented by Leonardo da Vinci that provides a live 360-degree view of the entire city of Havana. The panoramic view of the city is projected with a magnification factor of 30 onto a black screen through the camera’s peephole.
The camera uses a turret that an operator rotates while changing the angle of the mirrors to provide a full view of the city. The operator accompanies different views of the city with a humorous and well-informed narrative.