Hi Agniezka, every year I live three months in Havana. You can ‘double’ Havana in any run-down formal Spanish colony. Or even in an unpolished part of Spain. Keep in mind Havana is located along the sea. This means you should find a town which also overlooks the sea, because of the special light caused by the salted water. Strangely enough, even some poor parts at the east coast of Brasil (south from Bahia) remind me of Cuba. Brasil has been originally Portugese but still it looks very dramatic.
In the last couple of years Old Havana has changed drastically. They fixed up part of it. It became very touristic and feels as if you walk through a slide show. I guess that’s not the atmosphere you are looking for?
If you want me to brainstorm with you, be my guest!
Harriet Sanders
http://www.harrietsanders.com
Holland