Page 176 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

174  CUBA REGION B Y REGION

Exploring Cienfuegos
The presence of the sea at Cienfuegos makes itself felt
more and more the further you go from the historic centre
towards the Reina and Punta Gorda districts, two narrow
strips of land almost entirely surrounded by water. However,
for a fuller taste of the sea, go to the mouth of the bay,
which is dominated by the Castillo de Jagua fortress with
the picturesque Perché fishing harbour. East of Cienfuegos
is one of Latin America’s most spectacular botanic gardens.

many attractive villas. Various
brightly coloured wooden
houses can be seen towards the
tip of the peninsula. They were
modelled on the American The interior of Palacio de Valle,
prefabricated “balloon frame” with its Neo-Moorish decoration
homes that were so much in
vogue in the early 20th century. Arab-Spanish style of the
Alcázars in Granada and Seville.
P Palacio de Valle The façade has three towers of
Calle 37 e/ Ave. 0 y 2, Punta Gorda. different design symbol izing
Tel (43) 551 003, ext 830. power, religion and love. The
Open 10am–10pm daily. 0 terrace is open to the public.
The most original building in
the area, Palacio de Valle was P Cementerio Monumental
The characteristic wooden houses of designed by local and foreign Tomás de Acea
Punta Gorda architects engaged by the Ave. 5 de Septiembre. Tel (43) 525 257.
sugar merchant Acisclo del Open 7am–6pm daily. &
Punta Gorda Valle Blanco, one of the This impressive monumental
At the southern tip of the bay of wealthiest men in Cuba. It was cemetery lies in the eastern
Cienfuegos lies Punta Gorda – built as a private house suburb of Cienfuegos. Varied
the aristocratic quarter of the in 1913–17. This two-storey in stylistic influences, it was
city in the early 1900s – which building, which is now a conceived as a large garden
affords a lovely panoramic view restaurant, is lavishly decorated with paths and fruit trees.
of the bay. A short walk along with Gothic, Venetian and Neo- The entrance is a replica of
the seafront takes you past Moorish motifs, much in the the Parthenon in Athens.

Palacio de Valle, which Batista turned into a casino, now home to a restaurant
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp259–60 and pp273–4

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