Historic Centre of Cienfuegos Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Historic Centre of Cienfuegos
Central Park José Marti
Location	Cienfuegos, Cuba
Founded	1819

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name: Urban Historic Centre of Cienfuegos
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, v
Designated	2005 (29th session)
Reference no.	1202
Region	Latin America and the Caribbean

The Historic Centre of Cienfuegos is a special part of the city of Cienfuegos in Cuba. In 2005, UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site. This means it's a place of great importance to everyone in the world. It got this honor because of its amazing old buildings. These buildings show a style called Neoclassical architecture. The center also shows how cities were planned in the early 1800s by the Spanish. It's a fantastic example of that time. You can find many old buildings here. Some are from 1819-1850, many more from 1851-1900, and even more from the 1900s.

History of Cienfuegos
Famous Places in the Historic Center
Gallery
See also

History of Cienfuegos

Cienfuegos city plan (1899)

The famous explorer Christopher Columbus visited this area in 1494. But the first people to settle here were pirates and freebooters. This started in the 1600s. These early settlers were sometimes called "buccaneers." They raised cattle and made dried meat, called jerky. They sold this food to privateers and others who hid in the bay. By 1740, they also began growing tobacco.

In 1742, King Philip V of Spain built Fort Jagua. This fort helped stop pirates from using Cienfuegos Bay. The city itself was officially started on April 22, 1819. French and Spanish settlers founded it. They were led by Don Luis De Clouet y Favrot. The streets were laid out in a grid pattern, mostly north-south and east-west. This created square blocks. Even today, the city center has many different styles of buildings. These buildings are from the 1800s and early 1900s. Many of them have beautiful neoclassical designs.

Famous Places in the Historic Center

The Historic Centre of Cienfuegos has many interesting landmarks. Here are some of the most important ones:

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral

This is a beautiful and important church in the city. It is known for its stunning architecture.

Arch of Triumph

This impressive arch stands tall in the city. It is a symbol of Cienfuegos.

Botanical Garden of Cienfuegos

The Botanical Garden is a huge park. It was declared a National Monument in 1989. It covers 97 hectares and has many different plants.

Reina Cemetery

The Reina Cemetery is a very special old cemetery. It shows the neoclassical style of buildings in the city. It is the only cemetery in Cuba that still has its original burial niches.

Fortress of Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Jagua

This strong castle, also known as Fort Jagua, is at the entrance to Cienfuegos Bay. It was built in 1745. Its job was to protect Cienfuegos from pirates and buccaneers.