In the center of the Island, this province has one of the most beautiful bays of Cuba, the bay of Jagua, establishment of native communities and later besieged by privateers and pirates, who count on so many legend that an own mythology has. The city, founded by French coming from Bordeaux, was called Fernandina de Jagua.

The urban center was conceived originally according to the customs of the time. Around a Seat of Arms the first apples with a very modern conception (in comparison with other cities of the island) were constructed and in them the first constructions were constructed. Of them, many conserve at the present time, enriching the architecture and the local culture. Worthy of admiration they are: the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Purest Conception (1819), the theater Tomás Terry and the Palatal one, that are considered oldest of all. At the present time this area concentrates different facilities from cultural type where it can the visitor enjoy the local art and music.

In Cienfuegos many other constructions of great architectonic value like the Arc of Triumph stand out (only of its type in Cuba), erected in 1902 in the Seat of Arms (now Martí Park). Cienfuegos has palaces, parks, theaters, churches, restaurants and a called avenue Stroll of the Prado who extends until the Valley Palace, a luxurious mansion that constitutes a true jewel of the cienfueguera architecture.

To mention an example of the rate of progress of this city in cultural matter, we can mention that to the 25 years of founded the first press restored his, and on the following day, its first newspaper, "the port of Cienfuegos". One hundred years later already had left to faith of their existence 253 publications seriadas with seat in the city, without counting those of the adjacent towns. It cannot let be mentioned the development reached in the plane of the Education. It has three university centers, in which they form, in addition to the cienfuegueros, young students of other latitudes. Its Medicine Faculty only, graduates to the year more professional than the University of Havana before 1959, to mention an example.