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Cienfuegos
City "The Pearl of the South"
Capital city of Cienfuegos
Province
| 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 .
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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.
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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. |
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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. |
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| 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. |
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The
French influence is notable in many cultural traits and Cienfuguerian
customs, particularly in architecture, where arcs, stained-glass
windows and bars prevail and it is common to find palaces and
mansions .The streets, of perfect design, are wide and straight,
and give Cienfuegos, the flavor of being an enchanting city. |
To
Do
Antiguo Ingenio Carolina
Monument
Carretera de la Refinería de Petróleo
Arco de Triunfo |
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Monument
Parque José Martí |
Boulevard |
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Ave.
54, e/. 29 y 37
For Cuban standards alot of shopping to do here.
Check out the list below |
Cienfuegos
events |
| April |
| Festival de Camaron
(shrimps) |
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22,
Foundation of Cienfuegos |
| August |
| Carnival |
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Every
other year "Beny More Festival" |
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Casa Almacén
José García de la Noceda |
Monument
Ave. 52 #2913-15
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Casa de la Cultura Benjamin
Duarte |
(1918)
Formerly Palacio de Ferrer
Calle 25 #5403
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Casa de Vivienda del
Antiguo Central Soledad |
Monument
Real #204, Pepito Tey
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Casa de los Leones |
Monument
Calle 37 No. 5804-5806-5808
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Colegio de San Lorenzo |
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Monument
Ave. 56, e/. 27 y 29 |
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Casa del Fundador |
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Monument
Calle 29, esq. a Ave 54
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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
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Casona "Maroya"
del Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales |
Ave.
54, e/. 25 y 27
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Cathedral de la
Purisma Conception |
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Av
56 #2902 y Calle 29
tel:432-5297
Open on Monday and Sunday morning
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Was
builded between 1833-1869. One of the important buildings
at the central square. The
church features wonderful stained-glass work imported
from France.
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Cementerio de Reina |
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Monument
Nacional
7ma. e/. ave. 50 y 52, Reparto de Reina
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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.
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Centro Provincial de
Arte |
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Ave. 56, e/. 25 y 27
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Delfinario |
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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.
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Galería de Arte
Provincial |
Ave.
54 No. 3310
e/. 33 y 35 (Boulevard)
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Jardín Botánico
Soledad de Cienfuegos |
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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
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Jardines de la Unión
Nacional de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba (UNEAC) |
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Calle 25, e/. 54 y 56
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Museo de la Clandestinidad
Hermanas Giral |
Ave. 42 3709
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Museo del Deporte |
| Sala
Polivalente Gernika, (antiguo Frontón Jai Alai)
Calle 37, e/. 48 y 50
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Museo Historico Naval
Nacional |
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Av 60 y Calle 21, Cayo Loco
Tel: 432-9143
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.
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Museo Provincial |
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Furniture
Av 54 y Calle 27
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. |
Necropolis Tomas Acea
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| Av
5 / de Sieptembre
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.
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Palacio de Ayuntamiento |
At
Parque Marti
is the place of the Provincial Administration.
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Palacio de Blanco |
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Ave. 54
No. 3303-05-07
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Palacio Ferrer |
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Ave
54 esq. Calle 25
Tel: 432-6584 /
432/51-9722
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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.
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Palacio de Gobierno |
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(1898)
(Formerly Ayuntamiento today Poder Popular Provincial)
Parque Jose Marti |
Palacio de Goitizolo |
Monument
Ave. 60 #2917
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Palacio de Valle |
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(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.
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Palmira
Yorubá Pantheon |
Afrocuban
religions chapters.
The municipal museum recreates the religious syncretism
and the afrocuban folklore.
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Parque José Martí
Parques |
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Monument
Nacional
Antigua Plaza de Armas
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 |
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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)
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Santa Iglesia Catedral |
De la Purísima Concepción
Ave. 56 No. 2902
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Teatro Tomas Terry |
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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.
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| Banks |
Banco Finaciero
Internacional
Av 54 Calle 29
Open Mo / Fri 8 am to 3 pm |
Banco de Credito
y Comercio
Av 56 y Calle 31 |
Cadeco
(Casas de Cambio)
Av 56 #3314 |
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Send
mail? |
Post Office
Esq Av 56 y Calle 35 |
Make a phonecall? |
Etecsa
Calle 37 #4820 |
Medical |
Clinica Internacional
Calle 37 #202 |
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Farmacia
Santa Elena
Calle 37 #202 (open 24 hours) |
Optica |
Óptica
Miramar Cienfuegos
Óptica
Ave. 54 No. 3504, e/. 35 y 37 (Boulevard), Cienfuegos |
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Almacenes
Cuba
Ferretería
Calle 33 No. 5407,
e/. 54 y 56, Cienfuegos |
DITA
Electrodomésticos
Ave. 54, e/. 31 y 33,
Cienfuegos |
El Aeropuerto
Tienda Departamental
Aeropuerto Internacional
Jaime González
Carretera a Caunao, Cfgos |
El Embajador
Tabaquería
Ave. 54, esquina a 33
Cienfuegos |
El Encanto
Tienda Departamental
Calle 33, e/. 54 y 56,
Cienfuegos |
El Fundador
Artesanías
Calle 29, esquina a 54
Cienfuegos |
El Gallo
Artesanías y otros artículos
Ave. 54, esquina a 31,
Cienfuegos |
El Paraíso
Mercado
Calle 33, esquina a 58,
Cienfuegos |
El Prado
Tienda Departamental
Calle 37, e/. 54 y 56,
Cienfuegos |
Fantástico
Tienda Departamental
Ave. 54, e/. 31 y 33,
Cienfuegos |
Foto Vídeo Prado
Fotografía
Calle 37, e/. 52 y 54,
Cienfuegos |
Glamour
Boutique
Calle 35, esquina a 56,
Cienfuegos |
Jardín Botánico
Tienda Departamental
Jardín Botánico,
Cienfuegos |
La Avenida
Tienda Departamental
Ave. 37, e/. 12 y 14,
Punta Gorda, Cienfuegos |
La Calzada
Tienda Departamental
(Ave. 64) Calzada de
Dolores, e/. 49 y 52,
Cienfuegos |
La Casa Grande
Tienda Departamental
Ave. 64 y Alegría,
Caunao, Cienfuegos |
La Casa Mimbre
Tienda Departamental
Ave. 60 No. 3311, e/ 33 y 35,
Cienfuegos |
La Casa Rusa
Tienda Departamental
Ave. 62, e/. 37 y 41,
Cienfuegos |
La Esmeralda
Tienda Departamental
(Ave. 64) Calzada de
Dolores, e/. 59 y 61,
Cienfuegos |
La Habana
Mercado
Ave. 58 No. 3102, e/ 31 y 33,
Cienfuegos |
La Francia Moderna
Tienda Departamental
Ave. 54, e/. 33 y 35,
Cienfuegos |
La Lucha
Boutique
Ave 62, e/. 41 y 43,
Cienfuegos |
La Nueva
Tienda Departamental
Ave. 54 No. 3522,
e/. 35 y 37, Cienfuegos |
La Nueva Isla
Tienda Departamental
Ave. 54, esquina a 35,
Cienfuegos |
La Oriental
Tienda Departamental
Ave. 62, e/. 37 y 41,
Cienfuegos |
La Perla
Boutique
Calle 33, e/. 54 y 56,
Cienfuegos |
La Princesa
Tienda Departamental
Hotel Faro Luna,
Cienfuegos |
La Valenciana
Ferretería y
electrodomésticos
Calle 37, esquina a 54,
Cienfuegos |
Mundo Mágico
Tienda Departamental
Ave. 54, e/. 31 y 33,
Cienfuegos |
Pasacaballo
Tienda Departamental
Hotel Pasacaballo,
Cienfuegos |
Pasacaballo
Tienda Departamental
Carretera a Pasacaballo,
km. 22, Cienfuegos |
Pastorita
Tienda Departamental
Reparto Pastorita,
Cienfuegos |
Photoservice Guanaroca
Fotografía
Calle 37 y Avenida 2,
Punta Gorda, Cienfuegos |
Photoservice Jagua
Fotografía
Ave. 54, e/. 31 y 33,
Cienfuegos |
Pueblo Griffo
Tienda Departamental
Reparto Pueblo Griffo,
Cienfuegos |
Punta La Cueva
Tienda Departamental
Hotel Punta La Cueva,
Cienfuegos |
Rancho Luna
Tienda Departamental
Hotel Rancho Luna,
Cienfuegos |
Ranchón de Aguada
Tienda Departamental
Autopista Nac., km. 172,
Aguada de Pasajeros,
Cienfuegos |
Tienda ARTex
Palmarito
Música y souvenirs
Coto de Caza Palmarito,
Abreus, Cienfuegos |
Tienda ARTex
Casa Arco
Música y souvenirs
Ave. 54, e/. 31 y 33,
Cienfuegos |
Tienda ARTex Jagua
Música y souvenirs
Hotel Jagua, Cienfuegos |
Tienda ARTex
El Topacio
Música y souvenirs
Ave. 54, e/. 35 y 37,
Cienfuegos |
Tienda ARTex
La Aguada
Música y souvenirs
Autopista Nac., km. 172,
Aguada de Pasajeros,
Cienfuegos |
Tienda ARTex
Rancho Luna
Música y souvenirs
Hotel Rancho Luna,
Cienfuegos |
Venus
Peletería
Ave. 56, esquina a 31,
Cienfuegos |
Vídeocentro
Juguetes
y electrodomésticos
Ave. 54, e/. 31 y 33,
Cienfuegos |
Links & Sources:
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