Historic Centre of Cienfuegos

The Historic Centre of Cienfuegos, is located in the city of Cienfuegos in Cuba. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, because of its outstanding Neoclassical architecture and its status as the best example of early 19th century Spanish urban planning. The historic centre contains six buildings from 1819 to 1850, 327 buildings from 1851 to 1900, and 1188 buildings from the 20th century.

Historic Centre of Cienfuegos
Central Park José Marti
LocationCienfuegos, Cuba
Coordinates22°08′44″N 80°26′11″W / 22.14556°N 80.43639°W / 22.14556; -80.43639
Founded1819
Official nameUrban Historic Centre of Cienfuegos
TypeCultural
Criteriaii, v
Designated2005 (29th session)[1]
Reference no.1202
RegionLatin America and the Caribbean

History

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Cienfuegos city plan (1899)

While visited by Columbus in 1494, the area was first settled by pirates and freebooters beginning in the 1600s. Early settlers, often referred to as "buccaneers", raised cattle and made jerky to supply to the privateers and others who sought refuge in the bay. By 1740 they were raising tobacco as well.[citation needed]

In 1742 King Philip V of Spain built Fort Jagua to suppress the pirates' use of Cienfuegos Bay. The city was formally founded on 22 April 1819 by French and Spanish settlers under the command of Don Luis De Clouet y Favrot. The streets were laid out essentially north–south, east–west, forming square blocks. Today, the city centre still retains eclectic architecture from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, much with neoclassical decoration.[citation needed]

Landmarks of the Historical Center

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Notes and references

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  1. ^ "Decision: 29 COM 8B.53". Decisions of the 29th Session of the World Heritage Committee (PDF). Durban: UNESCO. 2005. p. 143.