Calm waters lap the inviting shores of Cienfuegos, the perfect spot for all travelers in Cuba to soak up some arresting architectural and plant history.
Once the heart of Cuba's mango, tobacco, coffee and sugar cane production, Cienfuego rose in popularity during the colonial period, with many of its best-preserved buildings representative of this period.
The town's historic district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and provides a great area to walk around and learn the city's history. Most structures here are protected for their 18th- and 19th-century architecture that is representative of the first large-scale examples of modernity, renowned for their urban planning and adherence to then-novice ideas of hygiene.
For a look at the region's relic fortress, guests can cross the drawbridge at the Castillo de Jagua. Although the moat is now dry, the castle's interior still owns an impressive array of 18th-century relics. Accessible only by ferry ride, guests may want to visit this site just for the fun journey involved.
Plant aficionados need to visit the Jardin Botanico Soledad. The brainchild of a sugarcane magnate, the garden is home to more than 2,000 varieties of plants. Currently owned and overseen by Harvard University and covering more than 200 acres, this is one floral spectacle that should not be missed.
Uncover Cuba's southern pearl in Cienfuegos
Posted on Tuesday, Feb. 21st, 2012
