Cienfuegos

About

Founded by the French in 1819 as a resort town, Cienfuegos is Cuba’s newest, and arguably most unique city. The city center was arranged in a perfect grid of streets and avenues, with most of the buildings done up in the Neoclassical style. This clean, modern, and spacious atmosphere earned Cienfuegos the nickname “The Pearl of the South”, as well as recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wandering the easy-to-navigate downtown, you’ll find plenty of elegant buildings to admire, like the Cienfuegos Cathedral, Government Palace, and Ferrer Palace. Head down to Punta Gorda to walk along the waterfront boulevard lined with pretty houses and plenty of casa particulares if you need a hearty home cooked meal. Just outside of town, the 97 hectare botanical gardens are home to over 2000 species of plants and a pleasant place to stroll, while the Jagua Fort predates Cienfuego and is an excellent example of Spanish military architecture.