Cienfuegos: The Pearl of the South charms

Located in the center of the island, on the southern coast, Cienfuegos is an attractive tourist destination, with nautical options and rich historical-cultural traditions to share. The province is becoming an obligatory stop for many touring the country. The capital city, bearing the same name, is the only settlement in Cuba established by French colonists from Bordeaux, Philadelphia and Louisiana. Don Louis D'Clouet sets the date of its foundation as April 22, 1819, with the name of Fernandina de Jagua, which in 1829 was designated a villa, and recognized as a city in 1880. Cienfuegos is best known as the Pearl of the South, also called the beauty by the sea, while the city’s most illustrious musician Benny Moré, said simply that it was "The city I like best." In any event, all the descriptors are understandable given the city’s beauty and location on the banks of Jagua Bay. Visitors note the stately arrangement of its streets and the impressive architecture of the central historic district, designated a National Monument. (Granma International staff)