Cienfuegos City is called "The Pearl of the South" because of the impressive beauty of its bay; because of its seductive city which provokes the wonder of all who know it, and because of that innate nobility which characterizes those born in Cienfuegos.

The history of Cienfuegos possesses interesting antecedents and is rich in aborigine and Hispanic legends. Before the Spanish came to America, the zone was settled by indigenous people and was known as the Cacicazgo de Jagua.

In order to protect its magnificent bay from corsairs and pirates, who ploughed the Caribbean, the third most important fort was erected in 1745. It was called the castle of Nuestra Señora de los Angeles de Jagua, situated right in the canyon of the entrance to the bay.

The foundation of Cienfuegos occurred in 1819, when French colonists settled in it, calling it Fernandina de Jagua, in honor of King Ferdinand VII and because of its aborigine origin. A rosette in the José Martí Park serves as a reminder of the place where the founding took place, and which served as the center for the urban design/layout. This park, which was the ancient Arms Square, is ample and rich in monuments, from which protrudes the only existing Arch of Triumph of Cuba.

In its surroundings coexists, harmoniously, buildings from the end of the XIX century and the first half of the XX, in eclecticism dominated by neoclassic cannons. This historical center has been declared a National Monument for its exclusive patrimonial value.

The Jose Martí Park communicates with a pedestrian walk known as the Cienfuegos Boulevard to the principal artery of the city, the Paseo del Prado. This is the longest street lined with trees in Cuba and leads the traveler to the Cienfuegarian Malecón. Further on, the residential zone and recreative area of Punta Gorda continues with nautical and traditional sport and marine clubs.

This peninsula which enters the bay and terminates in La Punta, has as well been declared a National Monument, because of its wooden large houses close to the sea, and other important buildings. Amongst the most important is the Palacio del Valle, an elegant eclectic mansion that combines the styles of Mudejar, Byzantine, Venetian, Gothic and Baroque.

Antiguo Ingenio Carolina 
Monument
Carretera de la Refinería de Petróleo

Boulevard
Ave. 54
e/. 29 y 37
Cienfuegos

For Cuban standards alot of shopping to do here.
Check out the list below

Cienfuegos events

April

- Festival de Camaron (shrimps)
- 22, Foundation of Cienfuegos

August

- Carnival
- Every other year "Beny More Festival"

Casa Almacén José García de la Noceda
Monument
Ave. 52 #2913-15

Casa de la Cultura Benjamin Duarte 
(1918) Formerly Palacio de Ferrer
Calle 25 #5403

Casa de Vivienda del Antiguo Central Soledad
Monument
Real #204, Pepito Tey

Casa de los Leones 
Monument
Calle 37 No. 5804-5806-5808

Casa del Fundador 
Monument
Calle 29, esq. a Ave 54
Cienfuegos

Castillo de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Jagua  
Monument Nacional
At the entrance of the Cienfuegos Bay

The Castillo de Jagua is a fortress near the entrance to the Bahia de Cienfuegos (bahia meaning "bay"), Cuba. This fortress was erected by spanish king Carlos V. in the 1740s to protect the bay where Caribbean pirates used to landed before the town of Cienfuegos was settled

Cathedral de la Purisma Conception
Av 56 #2902 y Calle 29
Cienfuegos
tel:432-5297
Open on Monday and Sunday morning

Was built between 1833-1869. One of the important buildings at the central square. The church features wonderful stained-glass work imported from France.

Cementerio de Reina 
Monument Nacional
7ma. e/. ave. 50 y 52, Reparto de Reina

The general open Cementorio De Reina is situated at the western side of the city. Found between 1830 and 1840 and very Neoclassical. The most famous grave statue is named La Bella Durmiente (The Sleeping Beauty)

Cienfuegos has two picturesque cemeteries, featuring elaborate marble headstones, mausoleums, and aboveground burial crypts. The Cementerio de Reina is the older of the two and located on the western extreme of the city beyond the downtown center. The Cementerio Tomás Acea is in an eastern suburb of the city and features an elaborate entrance modeled after the Parthenon in Greece.

Centro Provincial de Arte
Ave. 56, e/. 25 y 27
Cienfuegos

Delfinario
Carretera a Pasacaballo, km. 18
Dolphin Show; Tel:432/54-8120

Near Playa Rancho Luna, is the new Delfinario. Captive and trained dolphins and sea lions perform several times daily here. Although the amphitheater around a penned in saltwater lagoon is spiffy, we find these types of shows and facilities depressing. This place is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9am to 5:30pm, and has a reasonably priced little restaurant. Admission is 5CUCfor adults, 3CUC for children. It will cost you an extra 1CUC to take photos, 2CUC to shoot video, and 3CUC to get a kiss with a dolphin. A 15- to 20-minute swimming session with a dolphin costs 30CUC.

Galería de Arte Provincial
Ave. 54 No. 3310
e/. 33 y 35 (Boulevard)
Cienfuegos

Jardín Botánico Soledad de Cienfuegos
Monument Nacional
Calle Central 136, Pepito Tey,
Cienfuegos
Tel: 432/54-5334

This Botanical Garden, owned by Instituto de Egocolica y Sistematic, is another good offer of the province. In its 97 hectares -seven of which cover a nature reserved forest area- visitors will find more than two thousand plant species comprising 670 varieties and 125 families.

It is the largest and most extensive botanical garden in Cuba. The grounds are beautiful to walk around, and there's usually good bird-watching here, although everything tends to be overgrown and unkempt, and markings are sorely lacking. The gardens are located 17km (11 miles) east of downtown, via the road to Trinidad. They are open daily from 8am to 4pm; admission costs 3CUC for adults, 1CUC for children

Jardines de la Unión Nacional de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba (UNEAC)
Calle 25, e/. 54 y 56
Cienfuegos

Museo de la Clandestinidad “Hermanas Giral” 
Ave. 42 3709
Cienfuegos

Museo del Deporte 
Sala Polivalente Gernika, (antiguo Frontón Jai Alai)
Calle 37, e/. 48 y 50
Cienfuegos

Museo Historico Naval Nacional 
Av 60 y Calle 21, Cayo Loco
Tel: 432-9143
Cienfuegos

North-East of Parque Marti on the peninsula Cayo Loco you will find the shipping museum of Cuba. Famous because of its documents about the revolution against Batista at September 1957 and because of its collection about the Cuban marine.

Museo Provincial 
Furniture
Av 54 y Calle 27
Cienfuegos
T el:432-9722

This museum is housed in the old Casino Espanol builded in 1896. By looking at the old Cienfuegos furniture and porcelain, you can see how rich the Cienfuegos people were in the 19th century.

Monumental and in different styles variated cemetery at the east of Cienfuegos city. Designed as if it is a big garden with lanes and fruit trees. At the entrance you will find a replica of the Panhenon in Athene.

Palacio de Ayuntamiento 
At Parque Marti
Cienfuegos

Is the place of the Provincial Administration.

Palacio de Blanco 
Ave. 54
Cienfuegos
Tel: 3303-05-07

Palacio Ferrer 
Ave 54 esq. Calle 25
Tel: 432-6584 / 432/51-9722

In this building the Casa Provincial is housed and has a tower from which you can take great pictures from the city. In this building you will find the Casa Provincial de la Cultura. It is build at the beginning of the 20th century. This is a good place to find out if there are any interesting art exhibits or concerts going on while you're in town.

Palacio de Goitizolo
Monument
Ave. 60 #2917
Cienfuegos

Palacio de Valle 
(1917) All the way down Calle 37 #3501 Paseo del Prado
Punta Gorda
Cienfuegos

The most original building in Cienfuegos, designed by Cuban and foreign architects rented by sugar baron Acisclo del Valle Blanco, one ofthe richest men in Cuba. Builded in 1913-1917. It's a 2 story building decorated Gotic Venetian and neo-Morish. The three towers are standing for love, power and relegion.

Palmira Yorubá Pantheon

Afrocuban religions chapters.
The municipal museum recreates the religious syncretism and the afrocuban folklore.

Parque José Martí Parques
Monument Nacional
Antigua Plaza de Armas
Cienfuegos

The middle of Cienfuegos is in the middle of Parque Marti, the former Plaza Armas. In the middle of the paque you will find the zero km point. This parque is a national monument of Cuba because of the beautiful buildings among this parque.

Paseo del Prado

Beautiful old buildings and monuments
Prado was constructed in 1922. The street goes all the way to Punta Gorda, the south of Cienfuegos city

Santa Isabel de Las Lajas

Native city of Benny Moré, the great one of Rhythm, emblematic figure of the Cuban culture. The Municipal museum pays homage to him in his Rincón Querido (Favorite Corner)

Santa Iglesia Catedral 
De la Purísima Concepción
Ave. 56 No. 2902
Cienfuegos

Teatro Tomas Terry 
Parque Marti.Ave. 56 # 2703 y Calle 27
Cienfuegos
Tel:432-3361

Go inside to see the beautiful frescos and architecture.

Officially called Teatro de Cienfuegos, named after a rich sugar-baron who came to Cuba as a poor immigrant from Venezuela.

Inaugurated in 1890, the theater has been wonderfully maintained. It has been declared a national monument, and stars such as Enrico Caruso, Sarah Bernhardt, and Ana Pavlova performed here. Check to see if there are any performances while you're in town; if not, you can tour the facility during the day. Admission is 1CUC and includes a quick, guided tour.