Cienfuegos city is a delightful and interesting town with a history largely different to that of the rest of the country. It is a pleasant city which, because of its role as an important port, both domestically and internationally, has a slightly more cosmopolitan feel about it than most other areas in the south. The streets are straight and wide with the Paseo del Prado, which dissects the city and extends out to the peninsula's end, being the most important street. The street extends south through the Punta Gorda area and north along th bay, there are some excellent views to be had from here, especially at sunset when the bay takes on a quiet and brooding appearance. Visitors should see: Parque Jose Marti, on the eastern side of it is the impressive Catedral de la Purisima Concepcion, which was built in 1870. Also overlooking the park is the Provincial Government Palace, a grand building with great columns and marble floors. Due west of the park stands the Casa de la Cultura. Teatro Tomas Terry, situated on the north side of the Parque Jose Marti, is a beautiful and impressive structure whose facade is topped by three multi-colored mosaic murals. The Museo Historico, which contains local military memorabilia that once belonged to those who took part in the various struggles for independence and freedom. Another place to visit is Palacio del Valle, on the Punta Gorda. This Moorish style country house was bought by Alejandro Suero Balbin. Its fading pink colors fail to diminish the overall grandeur of the building which contains some excellent furnishings and porcelains. The botanical gardens is perhaps the most famed botanical garden in the country, housing over 2,000 tropical and sub-tropical plants. Among the impressive collection of plant species are more than 200 types of palm trees of araceae, there is also a collection of different types of palm trees indigenous to Cuba. Playa Rancho Luna, situated 20km east of the city, is still very quiet and secluded. The Castle of Our Lady of the Angels of Jagua, situated 22km from the city, was originally used by the Spanish as a small fort to keep out smugglers who used to enter Jagua Bay to obtain fresh water and food from the locals. It is now a much more substantial structure following the Spaniards' decision to develop it to defend the city from the more forceful threat offered by the English navy during the war between Spain and England.