Cienfuegos — a city on the southern coast of Cuba, 250 km southeast of Havana. Population — 163,824 people (2004).
The city was founded by French emigrants in 1819. In 2005 the historic center of the city was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Cienfuegos, called by Cubans the «Pearl of the South», — is a beautiful seaside city whose architecture is dominated by late neoclassicism. It also has the third largest fortress in Cuba, built before the city began to develop around the quiet bay shores.
The city has several good sandy beaches.