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Once a predominantly agricultural
province, Cienfuegos has undergone substantial development
since the Revolution and is now one of the most
industrialised of all the provinces.
Its location on the southern coast of
central Cuba has made it vulnerable to attack from pirates
and corsairs through the ages.
As the Cuban authorities look towards
promoting tourism on their island, so Cienfuegos has begun
to gear up to accommodate a more welcome type of visitor.
Although much of the province is
relatively flat, the foothills of the Escambray mountains in
the east are a pleasant and scenic attraction and there are
several unspoiled beaches stretching along the coast towards
the province of Sancti Spiritus.
Sugar is the area's main crop, with much
of it being exported from the port of Cienfuegos, the
capital of the province.
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Cienfuegos city:
This city is a delightful and interesting town
with a history largely different to that of the rest of the country.
It is a pleasant city which, because of its role
as an important port, both domestically and internationally, has a
slightly more cosmopolitan feel about it than most other areas in
the south. The streets are straight and wide with the Paseo del
Prado, which dissects the city and extends out to the peninsula's
end, being the most important street. The street extends south
through the Punta Gorda area and north along th bay, there are some
excellent views to be had from here, especially at sunset when the
bay takes on a quiet and brooding appearance.
If you visit this city don't forget to see:
Parque Jose Marti, on the eastern side of it is the impressive
Catedral de la Purisima Concepcion, which was built in 1870. Also
overlooking the park is the Provincial Government Palace, a grand
building with great columns and marble floors. Due west of the park
stands the Casa de la Cultura.
Teatro Tomas Terry, situated on the north side of
the Parque Jose Marti, is a beautiful and impressive structure whose
facade is topped by three multi-coloured mosaic murals.
Museo Historico, which contains local military
memorabilia that once belonged to those who took part in the various
struggles for independence and freedom.
Palacio del Valle, on the Punta Gorda, this
Moorish style country house was bought by Alejandro Suero Balbin.
Its fading pink colours fail to diminish the overall grandeur of the
building which contains some excellent furnishings and porcelains.
The botanical gardens is perhaps the most famed
botanical garden in the country, housing over 2,000 tropical and
sub-tropical plants. Among the impressive collection of plant
species are more than 200 types of palm trees of araceae, there is
also a collection of different types of palm trees indigenous to
Cuba.
Playa Rancho Luna, situated 20km east of the
city, is still very quiet and secluded.
The Castle of Our Lady of the Angels of Jagua,
situated 22km from the city, was originally used by the Spanish as a
small fort to keep out smugglers who used to enter Jagua Bay to
obtain fresh water and food from the locals. It is now a much more
substantial structure following the Spaniards' decision to develop it
to defend the city from the more forceful threat offered by the
English navy during the war between Spain and England.
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