Located in the center of the island,
on the southern coast, Cienfuegos is an attractive
tourist destination, with nautical options and rich
historical-cultural traditions to share. The
province is becoming an obligatory stop for many
touring the country.
The capital city, bearing the same
name, is the only settlement in Cuba established by
French colonists from Bordeaux, Philadelphia and
Louisiana. Don Louis D'Clouet sets the date of its
foundation as April 22, 1819, with the name of
Fernandina de Jagua, which in 1829 was designated a
villa, and recognized as a city in 1880.
Cienfuegos is best known as the
Pearl of the South, also called the beauty by the
sea, while the city’s most illustrious musician
Benny Moré, said simply that it was "The city I like
best."
In any event, all the descriptors
are understandable given the city’s beauty and
location on the banks of Jagua Bay. Visitors note
the stately arrangement of its streets and the
impressive architecture of the central historic
district, designated a National Monument. (Granma
International staff)
