Cienfuegos, Cuba

La Perla del Sur, or “Pearl of the South, this southern city was first populated by indigenous peoples and later settled by French immigrants in the 1800’s. The port, very large by the standards of the times, was instrumental in multi-national trade, especially between South America and Jamaica. Sugar was a major export of the city. The city’s Urban Historic Center is a UNESCO World-Heritage Site, serving as an example of urban planning accomplished during the 19th century by the Spanish. Other attractions include Castillo de Nuestra Senora (a castle/fort), historic cathedrals, botanical gardens, a cigar factory, and the University of Cienfuegos.