Cienfuegos

Cienfuegos

Founded in 1819 on Spanish territory, the colonial town of Cienfuegos was initially settled by immigrants of French origin. The town has become a center for trading sugar cane, tobacco and coffee. Located on the Caribbean coast in south-central Cuba, in the heart of the country's sugar cane, mango, tobacco and coffee producing regions, the town was first built in neoclassical style. Later it became a bit more eclectic, but still retained its harmonious townscape. The buildings that stand out include the Government Palace, the San Lorenzo School, the Bishopric, the Ferrer Palace, the former Lyceum and some residential buildings. Cienfuegos is rectangular, with wide streets, many parks and promenades, and a number of appealing buildings. UNESCO declared the historic city center a World Heritage Site in 2005. There are six buildings in the city center dating from 1819-50, 327 from 1851-1900 and 1188 from the 20th century. No other place in the Caribbean has such a remarkable array of neoclassical buildings. Sights of the Historic Center are Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, the Arch of Triumph, the Reina, the Fortress of Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Jagua, the Tomás Acea Cemetery, the José Martí Park, the Theatre Tomas Terry, the University of Cienfuegos and the Botanical Garden of Cienfuegos. The Jardín Botánico de Cienfuegos is one of the oldest botanical gardens on the island, covering 97 hectares. The garden now houses a large collection of tropical exotic plants, grouped into 670 genera and 125 botanical families.