The city of Cienfuegos is called "La Perla del Sur" (The Pearl of the South) due to its exceptional landscape with a large bay, as well as numerous buildings of high patrimonial value. It is located on the south coast of Cuba less than 250 km from Havana and is open to the sea. Founded by the French in the 19th century, the visitor is enchanted by its buildings of French and Spanish influences with Caribbean touches.
The city centre of Cienfuegos has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 and well-deserved nomination. We appreciated the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción around the José Martí Park dating from 1860, the Palacio de Gobierno de Cienfuegos and the Palacio Ferrer. To the south of the city is the famous Palacio del Valle with a structure like a Moroccan kasbah built in 1917, but other parts of the palace are Italian and Spanish in style. Ask the locals about the legend of this palace and I am sure you will be fascinated to find out!
SUNWING - Cienfuegos
During our visit, the media was briefed about Sunwing flying from Montreal directly to Cienfuegos very soon. Sunwing general manager Ms. Lyne Chayer announced this great news in a media gathering in Montreal and she expects the flights will start operating in November 2023. This news confirms Sunwing's position as the first tour operator to carry many passengers to Cuba.
This new air connection will allow Canadian and Latin American tourists living in this province to discover both the colourful city of Cienfuegos and the beautiful city of Trinidad which is about 45 minutes away from Cienfuegos by bus.
For more information, go see the web site:
The Tomas Terry Theatre
The Terry Theatre was built in the 18th century in honour of Tomas Terry Adans, one of Cuba's richest men who made a fortune in the sugar business. The majesty of the theatre lies in its Italian style characterised by its horseshoe shape. Its interior is decorated with marble and hand-carved parquet. Great artists such as Enrico Carusso, Jorge Negrete, Rita Montaner, Antonio Gades and many more have performed here. The theatre was declared a National Monument on 10th October 1978, considered an architectural jewel and the cultural symbol of Cienfuegos.
Erected in the middle of the Paseo del Prado, in the heart of Cienfuegos, we appreciated the attractive and imposing bronze statue in homage to the great Cuban singer Benny More, also known as "el bárbaro del ritmo". Unveiled in November 2004, the sculpture is life-size of the legendary musician at one metre and 82 centimetres and recreates, in detail, each of those attributes that made him the idol of many.
Video Benny Moré - Canción a "Cienfuegos" en Youtube
We visited the Sociedad Grafica de Cienfuegos, located inside the Consejo Provincial de las Artes Plásticas. The representative of this art house, Mr. Rafael Cáceres Valladares, said that the workshop was born with donations of works by many Cuban artists such as Kcho, Belkis Ayón, Ernesto Rancaño.
For him the most important thing is his printmaking workshop which he shares with the community and especially with autistic and disabled children and young people, and he does it with his own funds. There is frequent interaction with the children and the workshop even goes out to underprivileged homes with a press to show them the technique of engraving, a community work worthy of admiration!
Beautiful Trinidad
We arrived in Trinidad, one of the most beautiful and best-preserved cities of the Spanish colonial era, one delights in walking through its narrow cobbled and steep streets, admiring its small squares, renovated buildings, its beautiful churches, its parks and feeling the latent Cuban spirit. The tranquillity of its streets, without many cars, take us back to the past when we see the horse-drawn carriages as the preferred vehicle circulating around the city.
UNESCO declared the city of Trinidad and the Valle de los Ingenios World Heritage Sites in 1988 for its natural beauty. You will be captivated by the plains, valleys, rivers, and coastline during your visit.
We visited the main places of interest such as the Parish Church of the Holy Trinity, the Romantic Museum located in the Brunet Palace, the Plaza Mayor in the historical centre of the city, the Temple House of Yemayá where there is an altar dedicated to the divinity of the sea, the Casa de la Trova, and to rehearse some salsa steps there is the Rincón de la Salsa where they play live Cuban music from ten o'clock at night. The tavern "La Canchánchara", a well renovated 18th century mansion where you will taste the local drink made of aguardiente, sugar cane, honey, and lemon. Not forgetting the Trinidad-style Bodeguita del Medio where you will be delighted with son, salsa, danzón and others. Next to it there is a street dedicated to artisans.
We climbed the Manaca-Iznaga Tower, located about 15 km from the city of Trinidad in the heart of the Valle de los Ingenios, where, on reaching the top, we can see the farm where the sugar factory was located. Around the tower, we see the local artisans who offer pottery, embroidered tablecloths of all sizes, linen, or cotton shirts, long and colourful dresses and all kinds of handicrafts. Another popular viewpoint is the Mirador del Valle, where you can contemplate the natural beauty of the former sugar plantations and archaeological remains from colonial times. All this and more can be found and experienced by visiting Trinidad.
Hotels in Trinidad
For those who wish to experience authentic Cuban life, you can stay in the so-called "casas particulares" (private houses) of the region. There is also the Hotel Mysthique Trinidad la Popa managed by Blue Diamonds opened in May 2022 and located on top of the hill of the same name with beautiful views of the city. It is a perfect choice for couples. The Iberostar Grand Hotel which has all the luxuries is situated in the heart of the city, another option is the Hotel Memories Trinidad del Mar built as if it were a small colonial village, very typical, and family friendly with views of the sea and the mountains in the background.
New Hotel Meliá Trinidad Península
The Spanish hotel company Meliá Hoteles Internacional continues its expansion in Cuba and this time it will be in the city of Trinidad. The general manager of the Hotel Meliá Trinidad Península, Juan Pereira, received the press for a tour of the hotel, which is now in its final phase. "The Meliá Trinidad Peninsula Hotel is a 5 star plus hotel, this additional star is in honour of the charm of the city, with colourful houses, very friendly and cheerful people, where you will feel like living a fairy tale", said Pereira.
The hotel has 401 rooms divided into two sections, the standard section, and the adult section with 80 rooms and some have direct access to the pool. It is in front of the sea, exactly at the foot of the María Aguilar beach on the Ancón peninsula with wonderful views of its Caribbean waters and the mountains of the Sierra del Escambray.
The Meliá Trinidad Península is a modern and luxurious 5-star hotel with seven bars and seven restaurants, recommended for tours, family, adult only, weddings, honeymoons, conventions, and meetings with more than 700 m2 of meeting rooms. In addition, they have a beautiful YHI SPA where guests can enjoy and relax. It is important to point out that the hotel's strength lies in its self-sufficiency, as it produces its own electricity with 1,500 high-voltage panels, and if there is any surplus, there is a warehouse to store this energy.
They have 250 solar panels that will generate hot water, they also have a cistern that will collect all the rainwater from the rooftops that will help them with irrigation, and they have their own laundry. "All guests staying at the hotel will be recommended to visit Trinidad and Topes de Collantes. We will promote their dance, their music, their culture, their restaurants, guaranteeing our clients the transportation to the city between hours: 9h00, 13h00, 17h00, 19h00. and more", emphasized Juan Pereira.
We appreciated its unique and modern architecture, with large spaces, infinity pools overlooking the sea or swim-up pools with direct access from the rooms, as well as wellness and relaxation areas. You will enjoy its spacious and comfortable standard and deluxe rooms, its natural décor, and landscaped gardens with unusual sculptures. You can stay at this hotel à la carte, for stays of one, two days or seven-day packages.
Para más información visite la página:
https://gocuba.ca/en/
