Cuba's Benny Moré
Cienfuegos, July 1 (RHC)-- The tourism platform TripAdvisor, a world leader in the sector, has declared the bronze statue of Cuban musician Benny Moré, among the top attractions for Cuban and foreign visitors to Central Cienfuegos City.
The iconic bronze statue is ranked 11th among the top 23 must-visit attractions for 2021, said TripAdvisor and based its decision on positive reviews submitted by clients themselves.
Clara Soto Bermúdez, director of the Office for Monuments and Historical Sites in Cienfuegos province said the life-size sculpture, by artist José Villa Soberón, was unveiled on November 27th, 2004. It pays tribute to one of Cuba’s greatest all-time artists, Bartolomé Maximiliano Moré –better known as Benny Moré—born on August 24, 1919 in Santa Isabel de las Lajas, in Cienfuegos. Benny was a self-taught singer, composer and band leader. His tomb, located in the cemetery of Lajas, was declared a national monument in 2009.
Visitors often refer that the statue, without pedestal, appears as if Benny were walking, inviting passers-by to visit the Boulevard.
Soberón is the author of other emblematic pieces like the bronze life-size sculpture of John Lennon placed in the park that bears his name in the Cuban capital.
Besides the sculpture of Benny Moré, other sites and institutions were selected by TripAdvisor as major tourist attractions in Cienfuegos. These include Meliá San Carlos, Jagua and La Unión hotels, and the local Botanical Garden.