Cienfuegos municipality, Cienfuegos. Cuba

Cienfuegos was founded in Cuba in 1819 by French immigrant, Don Luis De Clouet. The city maintains a fairly homogeneous urban center full of classical facades and slender columns, which provides an atmosphere reminiscent of 19th century France. Cienfuegos is known as the “Pearl of the South of Cuba”. No wonder, having seduced travellers from all over the world thanks to its elegant blend of cultivated French spirit and gentle Caribbean style. In the bay itself you can find a sign quoting famous singer Benny Moré, saying “The city I like the most”.

This port town is situated by Cuba’s greatest bay. The entire town enjoys a jealousy-provoking maritime atmosphere and a sense of tranquility that breaths new life into renovated streets free of “jineteros”, these being key to its declaration as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005.

The most interesting places the central area has to offer are: José Martí Park, Paseo del Prado Street, Arc de Triomphe, Catedral de la Purísima Concepción (Cienfuegos Cathedral), Tomas Terry Theater, Colegio San Lorenzo School, Benjamin Duarte Casa de la Culture, Provincial Historical Museum, Cienfuegos Government Palace, Casa del Fundador, Naval History National Museum, Cementerio de la Reina Cemetery, Museo de Locomotivas (Locomotive Museum), Malecón de Cienfuegos, Benny Moré Statue, Sports Museum.

While in Punta Gorda it is worth to highlight: The Palacio Azul (The Blue Palace), Club Cienfuegos, Park of Sculpture, Palacio de Valle (Valle Palace), La Punta Recreation Centre.

A little further away, you can find the monumental Necropolis of Tomas Acea.

In the outskirts of town you can find the picturesque Playa Rancho Luna Beach and its hotels; the enclave of Santa Isabel de Lajas; Jagua Castle; Guanaroca Lagoon; Cienfuegos Botanical Gardens; El Nicho natural enclave; Ciego Montero spa; Loco Cay; Yamaraguas; and the Caribbean Coast.

Cienfuegos is one of the provinces of Cuba. The capital city of the province is also called Cienfuegos and was founded by French settlers in 1819. Until 2011 Cienfuegos was the smallest province in Cuba (excluding the city of Havana and the Isla de la Juventud) with an economy almost entirely dedicated to the growing and processing of sugar. Sugar mills and sugarcane plantations dot the landscape. There are waterfalls in the sierra of the province. Scuba diving off Cienfuegos province is extremely popular both with tourists and locals. There are numerous underwater caves, and well over 50 dive sites in the province.The provinces of Cienfuegos, Sancti Spíritus, and Villa Clara were once all part of the now defunct province of Santa Clara.