Cienfuegos facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cienfuegos
Municipality
Typical old street in Cienfuegos
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  La Perla del Sur (Pearl of the South)
Cienfuegos municipality (red) within Cienfuegos Province (yellow) and Cuba
Country	Cuba
Province	Cienfuegos
Founded	1819
Area
• Total	333 km2 (129 sq mi)
Elevation	25 m (82 ft)
Population  (2022)
• Total	178,368
• Density	535.6/km2 (1,387.3/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Cienfuegueros
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
Postal code	55100–55500
Area code(s)	+53 43
Vehicle registration	CF
Website	cienfueguero.gob.cu
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name: Urban Historic Centre of Cienfuegos
Type:	Cultural
Criteria:	ii, v
Designated:	2005 (29th session)
Reference #:	1202
Region:	Latin America and the Caribbean

Cienfuegos is a beautiful city on the southern coast of Cuba. It's also the capital of the Cienfuegos Province. About 250 kilometers (155 miles) away from Havana, Cienfuegos is home to over 178,000 people. People often call it La Perla del Sur, which means "Pearl of the South."

Since the 1960s, Cienfuegos has become a major industrial hub in Cuba. This means it's important for things like energy and sugar production. Even though its name sounds like "one hundred fires" in Spanish, the city was actually named after José Cienfuegos Jovellanos, who was a Captain General of Cuba a long time ago.

In 2005, UNESCO added the Urban Historic Centre of Cienfuegos to its World Heritage List. This means it's a very special place because it's a great example of how Spanish cities were planned in the early 1800s. The downtown area has many old buildings, some from as far back as 1819!

History of Cienfuegos

"Castle at the Entrance to Cienfuegos" (Colonial-era Castillo de Jagua), painting of 1855, by Granville Perkins. Boston Public Library.

Cienfuegos City Hall

An old view of Cienfuegos from 1856.

The area where Cienfuegos is located today was once called Cacicazgo de Jagua by the first Spanish explorers. This was a "chiefdom" (area ruled by a chief) of the Ciboney indigenous people, led by Chief Jagua.

The city itself was founded on April 22, 1819, by French immigrants. They came from places like Bordeaux and Louisiana, led by Don Louis de Clouet. They first named the city Fernandina de Jagua to honor King Ferdinand VII of Spain and Chief Jagua. Later, in 1829, it became a town and was renamed Cienfuegos. By 1880, it was a full city. Many old streets still have French names, like Bouyón and D'Clouet.

Cienfuegos quickly became an important port city. This was because of the rich farmlands around it and its great location for trade. It was a key stop on the trade route between Jamaica and South American cities. A railroad built between 1853 and 1860 helped connect it to other parts of Cuba, especially for the sugar trade.

During the Spanish–American War in 1898, a battle took place near Cienfuegos. American Marines tried to cut Spanish communication lines, and Spanish defenders fought back.

Many Spanish people, especially from Catalonia and Asturias, settled in Cienfuegos in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They became successful business owners, especially in the sugar industry. These wealthy residents helped build many of the beautiful and famous buildings you can still see in Cienfuegos today. Some famous people from Cienfuegos also include Irish-born John O’Bourke, whose children fought for Cuban independence.

During the Cuban Revolution, Cienfuegos saw an uprising in 1957. The city was bombed in response. After the revolution, Cienfuegos became a big industrial center. New projects included an oil refinery and a cement factory.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, some Soviet naval ships visited Cienfuegos. These ships included special vessels. The United States watched these visits closely. After discussions, the Soviet Union agreed to remove their ships.

In 2005, Hurricane Dennis hit near Cienfuegos with very strong winds.

Geography and Climate

Tree-lined residential street in Cienfuegos.

Near the entrance to Cienfuegos Bay stands the impressive Castillo de Jagua. This fortress was built in 1745 to protect the city from pirates.

Cienfuegos is one of Cuba's main seaports. It's a big center for trading sugar, coffee, and tobacco. While sugarcane is the most important crop, local farmers also grow coffee.

Climate in Cienfuegos

Cienfuegos has a tropical savanna climate. This means it's generally warm all year round, with a wet season and a dry season.

Population

In 2004, Cienfuegos had a population of 163,824 people. The city covers an area of 333 square kilometers (129 square miles).

Sports

Cienfuegos has its own baseball team called the Cienfuegos Elefantes (Elephants). They play in the Cuban National Series, which is Cuba's main baseball league. Their best finish was 3rd place in the 2010–11 season.

Fun Places to Visit

The beautiful tower entrance of the Palacio del Valle.

Sunset at Rancho Luna Beach.

El Nicho, a beautiful waterfall.

Cienfuegos has many interesting places to explore:

• Castillo de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Jagua – an old fortress.
• City Hall of Cienfuegos – the main government building.
• Arco de Triunfo – the only Triumphal Arch in Cuba.
• Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción – a cathedral with amazing stained glass, built between 1833 and 1869.
• Delfinario – a place where you can see dolphins and sea lions.
• Jardín Botánico de Cienfuegos – a huge botanic garden with many plants.
• Museo Provincial – a museum with old furniture and porcelain.
• Palacio del Valle – a palace built in a unique Moorish style from 1913–1917.
• Palmira Yorubá Pantheon – a museum about Afro-Cuban religious traditions.
• Parque José Martí – a park in the main square.
• Teatro Tomás Terry – a beautiful old colonial-style theater.
• Palacio Ferrer – another grand palace.
• Malecón de Cienfuegos – a scenic waterfront promenade.
• Paseo del Prado – the longest street in Cuba, known for its colorful buildings.
• Quintero (cigar) cigar factory – where cigars are made.
• University of Cienfuegos "Carlos Rafael Rodríguez" (UCF) – the local university.
• Rancho Luna Beach – a lovely beach to relax.
• El Nicho – a natural area with waterfalls.
• Laguna del Cura – an authentic lagoon for fishing boats.

Getting Around

The city has an airport called Jaime González Airport. As of 2024, it has flights to Toronto.

Famous People from Cienfuegos

Many talented people were born in Cienfuegos:

• Melissa Vargas – a famous volleyball player.
• José Abreu – an MLB baseball player.
• María Conchita Alonso – a Cuban-Venezuelan-American singer.
• Yordany Álvarez – an MLS soccer player.
• Joe Azcue – an MLB baseball player.
• Yoán Moncada – an MLB baseball player.
• Benny Moré – a famous Cuban singer.
• Gina Pellón – a Cuban painter.
• Yasiel Puig – an MLB baseball player.
• Robeisy Ramirez – a professional boxer and two-time Olympic Gold medalist.
• Osmel Sousa – a Cuban-Venezuelan entrepreneur.
• José Tartabull – an MLB baseball player.
• Cristóbal Torriente – a Hall of Fame baseball player.

Sister Cities

Cienfuegos has special friendships with other cities around the world, called sister cities:

• Tacoma, Washington, United States
• Etzatlán, Mexico
• Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
• Kingston, Ontario, Canada (since 2005)
• Bahía Blanca, Argentina
• Saint-Nazaire, France
• Contagem, Brazil

Gallery

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  Cienfuegos Cathedral and Medici Lions

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  Castle of Jagua

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  The Promenade of Cienfuegos

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  The central Calle D'Clouet with the "Hotel La Unión" (left) and the railtrack remains of the former urban tramway

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  Teatro Tomás Terry in Cienfuegos

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  Teatro Tomás Terry, postcard of 1915.

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  Kiosko

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  Old Yacht Club building, inaugurated in 1920.

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  Rear facade of the Old Yacht Club building, photo of 1925.

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  Palacio Ferrer. José Ferrer Sires, a wealthy Catalan settled in Cienfuegos, he commissioned renowned Cuban architect Pablo Donato Carbonell to design the luxurious palace for his family. Construction lasted between 1917 and 1920.

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  Postcard showing the Calle D'Clouet, Cienfuegos, in 1905.

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  The Kiosko Glorieta, Cienfuegos, in 1921.

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  Arimao River, Cienfuegos, postcard of 1915.

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  College Church of Los Dominicos, was inaugurated in 1906, postcard of 1921.

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  Cienfuegos, 1909

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See also

In Spanish: Cienfuegos para niños