Looking for adventure in Cienfuegos

This city in the province of the same name is affectionately called by the Cubans “the pearl of the south” due to a touch of European chic and special elegance mixed with the all-penetrating Cuban flavor and a special resort atmosphere. It turns out almost an incendiary mixture. Would you venture to experience it on yourself ?!

We could tell that this seaside town is distinguished by its special charm thanks to an interesting mixture of European architectural styles. With a bird's eye view, it looks more like a chessboard due to the clear geometry of the streets, without bends and convolutions. That the historical center of the city with all its neoclassical buildings of the 19th century, ancient churches, magnificent palaces and shady squares has for some time been under the protection of UNESCO. But instead, we’ll tell you about the most unusual, confusing, and even mystical, so that you can spend amazing time without leaving the province, and sometimes the city’s features. Go on an adventure!

In search of mysticism

Hagua Fortress

Castillo de Jagua (Castillo de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Jagua)

This small fortress with stone round domes on the towers was built to protect against Jamaican pirates, who now and then attacked, following the island of Huventud. It housed guns and soldiers on duty. The wife of the very first commandant Hagua died quite early and was buried right here in the fortress. Since then there are legends about this place. Rumor has it that at night in the fortress they often see the ghost of a certain lady in blue strolling through the halls and corridors of the citadel, and sometimes even along the fortress walls. It is unlikely to be able to get here at night - the Hagua fortress works from Monday to Saturday until five in the evening, and Sunday at all until one in the afternoon, but it’s still worth seeing the castle moat and an amazing drawbridge. And then, take a walk around the fortress in which the ghost lives - that’s another adventure!

You can get here by ferry or boat, departing from the pier in Cienfuegos (near the Pasacaballo Hotel) to the fishing village of Perche (El Perche), which is right at the fortress. If you have time, take a walk in this village with picturesque wooden houses that contrast strongly with the majestic gray fortress.

Address: Castillo de Jagua, Cienfuegos (29 km south of the city)

In search of myself (and others)

Cienfuegos Botanical Garden

Jardin Botanico de Cienfuegos

This garden is also known as Soledad, after the name of the sugar factory owned by its founder, Edwin Atkins. It is considered one of the largest in Latin America - its area is 90 hectares. In the botanical garden of Cienfuegos you will see about two thousand species of plants. Only palm trees and cacti are more than two hundred species, but this is not the most interesting. The main thing in this garden is a protected forest, a bamboo grove and a giant banyan tree. Its aerial roots span twenty meters. Some try to grab, but in vain! It’s easy to hide and get lost in them (just don’t get stuck, please). It looks very beautiful and unusual, as if something went wrong and the tree decided to break up into hundreds of other trees, leaving new roots from all its branches. Well, or as if this multitude of trees were crowding, deciding to whisper about something, and the crowns at this moment were intertwined so that they could not make out where whose. Visit this garden, find a tree and play hide and seek with someone among the aerial roots of a banyan tree!

Address: Jardin Botanico de Cienfuegos, Km 15, Circuito Sur, Pepito Tey

In search of solitude

Thomas Terry Theater

Teatro tomás terry

The eclectic 19th-century theater building is located on the north side of Jose Marti Park, in the historic city center. It looks grandiose. Moreover, both outside and inside. The exterior and interior are authentic, preserved from those times, made in a romantic Italian style. The theater is open to visitors almost every day, while performances are not very frequent. Admission is paid and will cost a couple of hundred rubles, but it's worth it.

Enrico Caruso, Sarah Bernhardt, Anna Pavlova, Alicia Alonso and other famous artists performed on its stage. Here the smell of antiquity is mixed with the smell of theatrical makeup, old posters, art oil and dry wood. Once inside, examine the gilded stucco work on the stage, murals on the walls, oil paintings, a marble statue of the former governor of Cienfuegos, Thomas Terry, and sit on unique wooden chairs. Usually it’s pretty empty here, so go up any tier and take a walk in the rows.

To completely dissolve, look for a separate entrance to the lodges closest to the scene. You will recognize them by the dense burgundy curtains. Traditionally, they were reserved for those who want to attend the performance, but do not want to be seen. Here you can get lost for a while and try to imagine that you in another century and on the stage can still appear Anna Pavlova or Sarah Bernhardt.

Address: Teatro Tomás Terry, Ave 56 entre 27 y 29, esq. 27, Cienfuegos

www.teatroterry.azurina.cult.c ...

In search of happiness

Jose Marti Park (formerly Piazza de Armas)

El Parque José Martí (Plaza de Armas)

Firstly, in the middle of Marty Square is the central point of Cienfuegos - the “zero kilometer”, the city was laid in this place. Secondly, this amazingly beautiful square with its ancient buildings surrounding it is declared a national treasure. Thirdly, in its western part there is the only Arc de Triomphe in Cuba (in honor of independence from Spain). The Palace of the Municipality of the Palacio del Ayuntamiento, where the local legislature sits, is also located here. Of course, we offer you to find all this, but brought here after another.

On this square in Cienfuegos, a ceiba tree has been planted, fulfilling wishes and bringing happiness. Ceiba is a sacred tree in many cultures. Cuba even has sayings about ceibu, for example: "The one who shakes the ceibu only shakes his body" or "Lightning respects the ceibu and no one else." There is a ceiba tree in Old Havana on the Arms Square. It can be difficult to approach because of the queue, and on the eve of the city’s birthday you can stand for several hours. In Havana, it is called the "Tree of Miracles." There is no such excitement in Cienfuegos, so you can calmly go up and perform a special ritual to fulfill a desire. They say that you need to go around the tree three times counterclockwise, touching it with your hand and saying three cherished desires to yourself, and then give the tree some coin (put next to it or throw it to the roots). Try it and tell us later what happened.

Address: El Parque José Martí (Plaza de Armas), Cienfuegos

In search of underwater wonders

Coral column "Notre Dame"

Coral colonies Notre Dame

Cienfuegos also has a unique natural attraction, especially for those who love diving. A huge coral reef stretches along the entire coast. The most interesting thing about it is a six-meter coral formation (20 feet) - a sort of column remotely resembling the famous Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The dive site is called El Coral. In general, the underwater world here is very interesting: flooded ancient ships, curious fish, turtles, stingrays, moray eels, barracudas, perches, lobsters, jellyfish, sea urchins, who are there. At certain times, you can even see a harmless, but impressive whale shark! There are about 50 diving sites in the province and three large diving centers: Whale Shark, Guajimico and Faro de Luna. Put on your costume sooner and set off in search of underwater wonders in Cienfuegos!