Cienfuegos ia the cleanest city in Cubа.

Many familiar with Cuban history have asked me whether the name of the city comes from the hero of the Cuban Revolution Camillo Cienfuegos, so I decided to share with you some facts on the topic.

Christopher Columbus visits Cienfuegos for the first time in 1494. Like many other cities in Cuba – Havana, Santiago de Cuba, and Matanzas, Cienfuegos is founded because of its location – it is situated on a quiet bay connected with the sea through a narrow channel. The Indians that used to inhabit this district called it Hagua. The story goes back to the 20th of April 1819 when colonel Luis Juan Lorenzo occupated the district and named it Fernandina de Hagua. They also built a fortress – Castillo de Hagua. Eventually, general Jose Cienfuegos of Cuba founded the city and named it after oneself. By the way, the harbour city carries a positive French immigrant influence even today.

Cienfuegos is the cleanest and, in my opinion, the richest city in Cuba. Its population varies around 139 000 citizens which makes it the third biggest harbour city in Cuba. It boasts beautiful architectural sights and nice walkways.

What to see in Cienfuegos:

  • The Colonial Centre

Here you can see the original building of the Tomas Terry Theatre, named after its donator – one of the richest merchants in Cuba, as well as the San Lorenzo College with a magnificent neoclassical facade. In Cienfuegos, you will also see the only Triumphal arch, devoted to the Independence of Cuba. You can take a walk along the main street. You will surely notice that all the shops are packed with people. On the main boulevard El Prado you will have the opportunity to take a photo with the bronze statue of the Cuban music legend Beni Moore. If you have enough time make sure you visit Coppelia – the right local place to taste delicious Cuban ice cream in fair amounts only for 0,50 EU. I hope you don’t catch the long queues! In Cuba you can very often get stuck in one – there you simply need to wait to buy whatever…

  • La Punta and Vale Castle

My absolute favourite! Follow Malecon all the way to the Vale Castle /Palacio de Valle/ – the only building in Cuba in Moorish style owned by the rich merchant Vale.

  • Malecon and the Sea Club

If you are looking for a beach in Cienfuegos you will be disappointed. There is an artificial beach in the beautiful park on the Cienfuegos cape bay, though. However, a genuine beach with white fine sand is waiting for you in the nearby Caribbean resort Rancho Luna.

 

If you want more spectacular of a beach simply visit Trinidad 70 km away.

Another interesting site close to Cienfuegos is the Vasil Levski factory for plasticware. It was built by Bulgarians and carries the name of the Bulgarian Apostle of Freedom. There you will also find the only bust of Vasil Levski in the whole of Central America.

Cienfuegos is one of the industrial centres in Cuba. It hosts the biggest refinery of Venezuela oil – one of the fundaments of the Cuban economy. In the harbour you will also find huge amounts of loose sugar thanks to which sweets are exported to the whole Eastern Bloc during the communist regime. Much less production is exported today. The Cuban mineral water and soft drinks factory is also located nearby.

More than half of Cienfuegos inhabitants have relatives in Florida, USA which explains the higher living standard of the locals.

Check out our video with the most interesting sights in Cienfuegos.