When Cristopher Columbus sailed along the wide gulf of Jagua in 1494, he was dazzled with the beauty of the Bay, dedicated to trade since early times of the conquest.

The exchange of goods and the British efforts to seize the Spanish possesions overseas were the main factors that contributed to the completion in 1745 of Our Lady of the Angels of Jagua Fortress, from which the whole bay is seen and which preserves a number of legends on its walls. At the beginning of the 19th century, a group of French settlers arrived at the colony Fernandina de Jagua, coming from Burdeos, Philadelphia and Lousiana; they were the first ones that found the urban center of Cienfuegos on April 22,1819. Ten years later, the Spanish Crown granted the title of village and for 1880 turned into a city, thus showing in this way the fast development attained in such a short time and which was fundamentally due to the trade activity of the port. The French influence in the town is prominent and decisive in the urban development in the first years. Rich in palaces, theaters, churches and parks, this city preserves and offers great attraction for tourism. Among the cultural and historical values of this city are the only Arch of Triumph found in Cuba and erected by the workers of Cienfuegos to pay homage to the emerging Republic in 1902; the Cathedral of the Purísima Concepción, built in 1819 and decorated with French stained glass; the centennial Tomás Terry Theater inaugurated in 1890; majestic palaces as that of Valle or Ferrer or places closely linked to history as Tomás Acea and La Reina cemeteries and San Lorenzo School. But undoubtedly Cienguegos’ main attraction is its condition of seashore city named “the Pearl of the South” and “the beautiful sea city”. This southern region is closely linked to the sea activity. The Grand Prix of Motorboats is held every year on his Bay. Rancho Luna Beach, Playa El Inglés and Playa Fría are other special sites found in the Pearl of the South and that visitors from this city can enjoy. Diving lovers have in Cienfuegos an ideal setting to practice this sport. Another important feature of this beautiful city is the surrounding nature, at just some minutes from the heart of the city, the Botanical Garden is situated, set up in 1901 under the sponsorship of the University of Harvard, exhibiting over 2,000 plant species and a palm collection which is among the 10 more complete of the world. The Escambray Sierra on the northeastern area is a not-to-be-missed spot for those who search all the splendor of nature. In this mountain range is the fauna shelter of Guanaroca-Yaguanabo-El Nicho Lagoon.

Cienfuegos the blue lady A rare big white bird used to fly every night to Jagua Castle at 12 p.m., as a response of such a visit, a woman dressed in blue brocade appeared and suddenly disappeared after having a ride along the walls and merlons. The vision was seen for several nights causing the fear of the night guardians. Then a young second lieutenant recently arrived, requested to replace the sentinel. At midnight the ghost appeared and he faced her. The next morning, the soldiers found the young second lieutenant lying on the floor unaware, a skull next to him and a rich blue shawl and the sword broken in two pieces. The young man woke up from his lethargy, but he was confined to a mental house. Even today the legend prevails and it is said that she still appears once in a while walking along the walls of the fortress.

La Marilope Toward 1562, a Spaniard settled in the region and had a girl with an Indian. She became the most beautiful and coveted young woman by the men at Jagua. Pirate Jean The Bold, landed at the port and felt in love with Marilope but she rejected him and he swore that she will belong to him at any price. One afternoon when she was alone at the seashore, he suddenly appeared and declared his love again. Rejected, the pirate tried to take her to his ship, but she runaway. Nearby, a group of pirates surrounded her, Jean came closer and a wall of thorns emerged, out of rage, he shot, Marilope fell and a white dove went up in the clouds. The bright of a lightning was seen on the sky and Jean and his henchmen fell unaware. Jean’s body was burning like a torch and in the very place where Marilope fell, a plant of yellow flowers with sulfur shades suddenly emerged. Today the name of this plant, recalls the mestizo young woman of bronze and marble that preferred to die rather than giving herself to someone that did not deserve her. the scream at the cove One morning in Jagua town, a mysterious galleon landed coming from a European country that anchored in Don Bruno Cove. Every afternoon on sunset, a tall figure of a woman was seen on the top of the rocks surrounding the cove, dressed in white, walking slowly and elegantly, accompanied by other dressed-up ladies. Two weeks passed by and in a night full of stars, a loud and strident scream was heard, a strong, overwhelming, an anguishing human shriek that broke the monotonous silence of the night, filled with panic the inhabitants of the place. At dawn, small groups of settlers were around the beach commenting the scream heard from the high rocks of the cove. The white figure walking on the top of the rocks was never seen and some days later, the boat was heading toward the sea by the canal, carrying with its cargo, the mysterious visit to this port and a tragic legend.