Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital of the island to which our site is dedicated, as well as the province of the same name. In addition to Tenerife, it includes the islands of El Hierro, La Palma and La Gomera.
Once upon a time, not far from Santa Cruz, the Spanish history of the island began. In 1494, the conquistadors first landed in the town of Añasa, now located eight kilometers from the capital. However, in those days it was not safe to settle on the coast, so after the conquest the Spaniards built their first city in a sheltered valley. This is how San Cristobal de la Laguna was born. In the same place where Santa Cruz now lies, there was only a fishing village.
Later, an important port appeared here, which already in 1723 allowed Santa Cruz de Tenerife to receive capital status. Today it is the second largest port in Spain, where the most famous and largest ships call. The population of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is more than 220 thousand inhabitants, which by Canarian standards gives the city the right to be considered very large.
Many large European cities today represent an amazing synthesis of modernity and history. This is also the capital of Tenerife, the largest of the islands of the Canary archipelago. On the one hand, there are huge shopping centers, brands known throughout the world, the newest tram line... on the other, narrow old streets and small houses that keep the secrets of past centuries.
Attractions of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Auditorio de Tenerife
One of the symbols of the capital, built by the notorious architect Santiago Calatrava. Inside there is a large concert hall, which hosts performances by both local groups and world stars.
Castillo de San Juan
The fort, now in the shadow of the huge Auditorio building, is one of the oldest landmarks in Santa Cruz. It was built on the coast in the mid-17th century to protect the port, famous at that time for the slave trade from Africa, from attacks from the sea. Named after John the Baptist. The fort's second name is Black Castle (Castillo Negro).
Every year at the end of July, a performance is held here that recreates the events of 1797, when the British attack led by the legendary Admiral Nelson was repulsed at the Battle of Santa Cruz. It was in this battle that he lost his arm.
Torres de Santa Cruz
Not far from the Auditorio you can see two skyscrapers - twin residential towers, built in 2004 and 2006. Their height is 120 meters. These are the tallest buildings in all of the Canary Islands and the tallest pair of twin towers in all of Spain. Interestingly, a quarter of the total area of the buildings is underground.
Carnival emblems on Constitution Avenue (Avenida de la Constitución)
For many years, in February–March, Tenerife hosts a carnival known throughout the world (it is considered second in scope after the Brazilian one). Each carnival has its own emblem. You can see the images created for the celebrations of past years on the Avenue of the Constitution (Avenida de la Constitución). You need to go from the old fort, towards the exit from the city. The emblems are built directly into the pedestrian path.
Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África
This curious building, recognizable by its arched vaults and pink clock tower, is located on San Sebastian Avenue. The most unusual thing about it, perhaps, is its purpose: Mercado de Nuestra Señora de Africa, despite all its architectural sophistication, is a two-story market built in 1943. Moreover, the market is active. You need to come before lunch, and best of all - in the morning: at this time you can buy the freshest vegetables and fruits, flowers, seafood (including oysters), cheeses, poultry, and spices. On Sundays, in the morning, there is a flea market where they sell souvenirs and various original things.
Teatro Guimera
The attention of passers-by is primarily attracted by the bronze sculpture installed in front of the theater façade. The sculpture in the form of a huge female face is named Per Adriano (“For Adriano”). It was created in 1993 by the famous Polish sculptor Igor Mitoraj, whose “faces” adorn more than one world capital.
The theater itself is also noteworthy - it is the oldest in the Canary Islands. The building was built in 1849 in the classical Romanesque style, after which it was repeatedly completed and reconstructed. The theater has been named after Angel Guimera (the author of many famous plays, a native of Santa Cruz de Tenerife) since 1925. On this stage you can see not only dramatic, but also dance and musical performances.
Masonic Temple (Templo Masónico de Santa Cruz de Tenerife)
The building, located at the intersection of Calle San Lucas and Calle Viera y Clavijo, was built more than a hundred years ago by order of a local Masonic workshop. The temple has been under reconstruction for quite some time, so you can only explore it from the outside.
Ancient Egyptian symbols were used to decorate the temple: under the very roof there is an eye with rays radiating from it (“Radiant Delta”), figures of sphinxes are installed below, and an eagle spreads its wings above the entrance.
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción
Among the Catholic churches of the city, this one occupies a special place. Here, in the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, there is a cross erected on the coast of Añas by the conquistadors who arrived here to conquer the island at the end of the 15th century. There was also a place for captured British flags, preserved from the Battle of Santa Cruz.
The chapel on this site was built already in 1498, literally two years after the final conquest of Tenerife - after all, in those days, conquests went hand in hand with Christian missionary work. It is no coincidence that the Church of the Immaculate Conception has the title “Mother Church” (Iglesia Matriz), emphasizing its importance in the spread of Catholicism in the Canaries. In addition, it was from this square that the city grew.
The current appearance of the building, the distinctive feature of which is the spire, is the result of reconstruction carried out after the fire of 1652 and completed only in the second half of the 18th century. This only five-nave church in the Canaries is also interesting for its interior - in particular, the altar.
Plaza de España
According to the architects' idea, the central square of the city and the entire island was turned into a kind of bowl with sea water and a fountain in the middle. The original lighting also corresponds to this idea: light bulbs placed in garlands around the perimeter are made in the shape of water drops of different sizes.
The architectural dominant of the square is a huge obelisk (Monumento de los Caidos) in the shape of a cross, dedicated to the residents of Tenerife who died during the Spanish Civil War. At the top of the obelisk there is an observation deck, below there is a now empty underground chapel. Part of the composition is a group of sculptures.
Behind the obelisk is the Tenerife government building - the Cabildo Insular, an example of architecture from the 1930s. The main tourist information office of the island is located in the same monumental building with a clock, where you can purchase a good map of the city with landmarks.
Plaza de España was built on the site where San Cristobal Castle once stood, protecting the city from pirates. Now the walls of the castle can only be seen underground, where galleries have been built specifically for this purpose - outwardly they look like angular dark buildings covered with plants. The exhibition is called Centro de Interpretación “Castillo de San Cristóbal”. Admission is free, Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00.
The continuation of the square is the green and shady Alley of the Duke of St. Helena (Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena). There is a marble fountain brought from Genoa in the year the alley was built.
Plaza de la Candelaria
Plaza de la Candelaria, located next to Plaza España, was founded much earlier - back in 1701. Previously, there was a source of drinking water here, and the name was appropriate - La Pila (literally - “pool, reservoir”). Subsequently, instead of a source, a monument dedicated to Santa Candelaria, patroness of the Canary Islands, was erected in the center of the square.
The obelisk "Triumph of Candelaria" symbolizes the appearance of the Virgin Mary to the indigenous population of the archipelago, the Guanches, and their conversion to Christianity. The composition consists of four Mensei (Guanche rulers) and the Virgin. Previously, they were complemented by four angels riding dolphins - symbols of the seasons. However, this part of the composition was damaged in 1825, after which it was removed.
Among the buildings located on the square, it is worth noting the Rodriguez Carta Palace (Palacio de los Rodriguez Carta), dating back to the 17th century. If you go inside, you can see a luxurious courtyard with verandas and stairs made of dark wood.
The pedestrian Calle del Castillo, which runs up from Candelaria Square, is home to many small shops. For tourists who want to spend time shopping, combining it with a walk through the city streets, this is the most suitable place. But do not forget that many shops close for siesta from one in the afternoon to half past four.
Duck Square (Plaza de los Patos)
This small but very green square is loved by the residents of Santa Cruz. The stone benches installed here are decorated with ceramic tiles with various patterns, and plaques stylized as advertisements from a previous era are attached to the center of the backs. Duck Square is called because of the fountain, in the center of which there is a stone duck.
Rambla de Santa Cruz
One of the largest and most beautiful streets in the capital of the island. Consisting of elegant buildings, numerous restaurants and cafes, it stretches in a semicircle through almost the entire city. Where the street reaches the coast and intersects with Avenida de Francisco la Roche, there is a huge monument to General Franco. The street itself was named after him for a long time (on many maps it is still designated as Rambla del General Franco).
The street is decorated with palm and laurel trees, as well as modern sculptures, making it a kind of arts boulevard. There are signs on the trees with the names of great artists: Warhol, Michelangelo, Vermeer and others. On Sundays there is a flea market here.
Park García Sanabria
Parque García Sanabria, named after the mayor who approved its construction, is the largest urban park in the entire Canary archipelago, rightfully considered the “lungs” of the city of Santa Cruz. It was created in the 1920s and today has a rich collection of plants, mainly tropical and subtropical. Here you can also find a brief summary of the history of the island: on the backs of three benches, the landing of the conquistadors, the everyday life of the Guanches and their defeat at the Battle of Acentejo are depicted.
At the entrance to the park, which can be reached along Calle del Pilar, there is a large flower bed with a clock built into it, next to which guests of the capital like to take pictures. Citizens often make appointments here. Two grand staircases to the right and left of the clock lead to the central fountain, where, at the intersection of two alleys, there are monuments to Mayor Garcia Sanabria and Doctor Guigo, who at one time proposed building the park.
Las Teresitas Beach
Those who want to combine a “metropolitan” vacation with a beach vacation should go to the town of San Andres, located seven kilometers from Santa Cruz. It is here that the beautiful artificial beach of Las Teresitas is located, more than a kilometer long, surrounded by mountain ranges. It was developed back in the 1970s, when about four million bags of yellow sand were brought here from the Sahara Desert, and Canary palm trees were planted along the shore.
A stone dam built along the entire beach protects it from waves and allows the water to warm up. This is a serviced area: rental of sun loungers and umbrellas is organized, there is a shower, parking, restaurants and a medical center. Access is free, like all beaches in Spain.
Mirador de los Campitos
The Mirador de los Campitos viewpoint offers views of the residential area of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the port and the lower part of La Laguna. On a clear day you can see the island of Gran Canaria almost in detail; It is especially interesting to explore the surroundings with binoculars. To get to the observation deck, you need to take the Los Campitos Highway (Carretera de los Campitos).
View of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (weather online) via webcam
Let's take a walk together around the capital of the island of Tenerife. What do you expect from the capital? Noise, traffic, business centers? Let's see.
Morning. Typical day. The city has already woken up and is breathing in the morning sea freshness. Lena and I leave the hotel. Life is in full swing all around.
Opposite there is a small park. In the center, of course, there is a fountain, along the perimeter there are paths and flower beds. Children are frolicking, and mothers with strollers are having leisurely conversations. Everything is like on mainland Spain.
On each column along the perimeter there are flowerpots with petunias. During the night, the hardworking spiders managed to stretch their webs from the vase to the trees. I was the first one to walk along the path today and collected all the cobwebs with my cap.
We are in the old city, if you can call it that. All the buildings are in perfect condition, so it’s hard to tell whether they are new or old. On the right you can see the columns of the City Museum of Fine Arts.
In the same block there is a huge church of St. Francis of Assisi. The doors are open. People come and go.
The park in front of the temple was very disappointing - there were artificial grasses.
We are moving towards the ocean to Plaza de España. The driver of a double-decker excursion bus persuades British pensioners to take a breeze through the city's attractions. I don’t think it’s worth buying an expensive ticket for the red bus here. There's not much to see in the city.
Plaza de España is an unusual square. The entire area is occupied by an artificial pond with green water. There are alpine slides along the perimeter, there is a cafe and a tourist center, and a large paid parking lot has been buried underground.
Before the trip, I bought a new Sony 35mm lens for my camera. I tried to take portrait photographs. Removes well, but too limited use. When walking around the city, you need a good zoom to capture all the details of the city.
There are even several skyscrapers in Santa Cruz, but small ones. Later I will show you the Canary Twin Towers.
This is Monumento a los Caidos, as translated by Google - a monument to the fallen.
I love the palm trees in the city center! This is Plaza Candelaria. There are many cafes here, so we decided to have lunch.
In Tenerife, restaurants have quite affordable prices. Like you in Spain, menus of the day are common here, when for €8-12 you get a first, second and dessert. We often take one menu for two. I was asked how the waiters react when you ask to share one dish between two people? It’s normal, they always bring extra cutlery. Only once in the Czech Republic we were asked to pay extra for a plate, but this is the Czech Republic, they love to scam people out of money.
What’s strange is that mighty palm trees 2 stories high grow from small tubs, how can they not fall!
Yes, Tenerife has a tram line. Unfortunately, these are not old trams, but rather modern ones.
Palm trees look gorgeous against the blue sky. Tenerife has an indescribable atmosphere of a European city with African nature.
I love dragon brothers. On the way back, right at the airport, I bought a seedling of this plant, now it makes me happy on the window of the house, along with the Canarian Aloe Vera from my last trip. This Aloe is growing by leaps and bounds, already occupying the entire windowsill. I put it on the balcony for the summer, now I’m wondering where to keep this monster in the winter?
I heard a noise on the next street. We came to have a look. A bunch of people are standing along the wall, drinking various drinks. The sounds of a feast can be heard from the windows of the house opposite. Maybe a wedding or anniversary? Mom and daughter looked at me and pointed their fingers at me.
A white moped flaunts under a tree. There is a meaningful inscription “Like” on the steering wheel.
Lena takes pictures of me like I take pictures of a moped.
We came to the Baranco de Santos embankment, but there was no river! The riverbed is thoroughly concreted. People walking their dogs.
Cheerful yellow Canary house. Definitely with tiles. If you don't have painted tiles on your wall, then you're not trendy.
Young people drink beer and grill meat on the roof across the street.
The mighty root of the tree resembles the skin of a seal, just as lazy and clumsy.
In the bar opposite, a well-fed man is enjoying himself in the sun. He sips his beer with an important air and slowly turns over the pages of the book. He spat, rubbed his fingers, scribbled the page, and then turned it over.
Again I caught a multi-colored Canarian tram in the frame. They rush around here quickly.
The Parroquia Matriz de Nuestra Señora de La Concepción church can be seen from afar. Such typical Canarian architecture.
We walk along the port. They brought in a giant oil platform. I heard that the Canarians are vehemently opposed to oil production in the region, but who will listen to them when so much money is circulating!
And we reached the main building in Santa Cruz - .
In the center of Santa Cruz de Tenerife stands a marvel of avant-garde architecture, a magnificent masterpiece by Santiago Calatrava, a symbol of the city and the entire Canary Islands - the building of the Auditorio de Tenerife. The island's concert hall is one of the most striking and significant art objects in Spain.
The Auditorio de Tenerife has become a striking modern example of expressionist architecture. The area of the Concert Hall was about 6.5 m². The total length of the roof structure, located at a height of 50 meters, reached one hundred meters; its weight was 350 tons. The curved exterior lines of the building were repeated in the interior spaces and music rooms of the Auditorio.
It was the end of January, the city was preparing for Carnival. Various attractions were brought to the island from somewhere. Faded slides, a Ferris wheel, a room of terror.
Interesting angle, right? It's like looking under a peacock's tail.
What colossal calculations of strength of strength did the architect have to perform in order to sculpt a giant sharp beak from concrete.
Interesting art object. On the shore, instead of breakwaters, there are piles of cobblestones. Various artists depicted portraits of musicians, singers, and composers on them. I counted as many as 3 Michael Jacksons! They love him.
You need to stop for a minute, freeze, take a deep breath of the invigorating sea air, feel the power of the wind.
In a small backwater near the concert hall I found rusty fishing ships.
From the back side, the Auditorio looks like a butt, is this the author’s funny idea?
- Your leg is pointing to the left for some reason.
There are very funny fortresses in the Canaries. Under the formidable name Castillo de San Juan hides this miracle that looks like a garage.
Graffiti: Virgin Mary with a cute cat and dog.
A bar with an indecent name.
As for the capital status of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Canarians have not been able to resolve this issue for centuries. The dispute is between Gran Canaria and Tenerife, the two largest islands of the archipelago. Santa Cruz de Tenerife was founded in 1494, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria a little earlier, in 1478. As a result of the dispute, two cities are the capitals of their islands, and the capital of the entire archipelago is transferred every two years from one to another, can you imagine? In 2016, Santa Cruz rules the roost, and next year it will be La Palma.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife will be a pleasant place to live for residents of big cities who are accustomed to comfortable apartments, traffic noise, boulevards and sidewalks. The city's population is about 220 thousand people; by Russian standards it is not a very large city, but here it is the largest. In Tenerife, it is easy to get tired of the provincialism of numerous villages, so if you are looking for a holiday in a mild climate, but with a familiar cityscape, the presence of museums and shopping centers, cinemas and a large selection of cafes and restaurants, stay in Santa Cruz. Tenerife is famous for its natural attractions, such as the active volcano Teide, the eerie but beautiful gorges of Masca and Inferno, which are easily accessible from the capital. Today we will tell you in more detail how to fill your vacation without leaving Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
History of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Landing in Tenerife, you find yourself on one of the oldest islands in the world and immediately feel that this place is special. It is believed that the Canary Islands “grew” from the depths of the ocean during the sinking of Atlantis. No one knows for sure when this happened and whether Atlantis actually existed, but it is known for certain that 2000 years ago, the Guanches, the legendary pioneers of these lands, settled on the site of Santa Cruz. The Silver Holy Cross (Santa Cruz) was erected here by the Spanish conquistadors in 1494, which is considered the year the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife was founded. This cross can now be seen in the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción Museum. The capital of the island was originally the port city of Garachico in the northwest, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Teide in 1706. No residents of Garachico were harmed, but the administrative center had to be moved to Santa Cruz, and this changed the pace of development on the eastern tip of the island.
After Spanish colonization, Tenerife was repeatedly attacked by the British, Danes and other Europeans. Many battles took place in Santa Cruz, but the city was never taken by the enemy.
Today's peaceful Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a city of military glory, on whose coat of arms you will see three leopards, representing three victories over British invaders in the local port - in 1657, 1706 and 1797.
- a landmark throughout Spain. It is the second largest in the world after the famous carnival in Rio. This tradition was brought here by the Spaniards from the continent, or rather, from Cadiz. Annual festivities take place throughout the island, but it is in the capital that the costume show is organized at the highest level. All events taking place during the first week of February are completely free. The election of the queen of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife carnival from local beauties, the first procession of the queen, the main procession along the embankment (Gran Coso Apoteosis) and the comic “funeral of a sardine” in the finale are the main themes of the carnival. All residents and tourists, in costumes and without, take to the streets, walk and dance until the morning, watch competitions of street musicians and dancers, orchestra performances, concerts and performances throughout the city.
As part of the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, there is always a children's costume procession, a parade of vintage cars, and a temporary amusement park is installed on the embankment. At this time, cafes and restaurants offer special menus at very attractive prices.
Shops in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
What to do in Santa Cruz for the rest of the year, with the exception of Easter week? There are two more important dates you need to know! Seasonal sales periods, when discounts reach 70% on everything, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife are the same as on the continent: from January 6 to February 30 and from July 1 to August 30, the prices will pleasantly surprise you. Not far from the city center is the large commercial center El Corte Ingles. This Spanish chain of stores is distinguished by a high-quality selection of goods and manufacturing companies. There is convenient parking, bars and restaurants, a grocery store, souvenirs and 7 floors of clothing and shoe stores, perfumes, sportswear and equipment, in general, shopping for every taste.
When you go shopping in Santa Cruz de Tenerife at Cort Inglés, you will come across Spanish clothing brands of excellent quality, but not too expensive, which are not very popular in Russia: Adolfo Domingues, Carolina Hererra, Roberto Verino, Purficacion Garcia. There is also a huge selection of basic brands Zara, Mango, Desigual, Jack&Jones, Pimkie, Guess, several floors are occupied by luxury items Armani, Dolce&Gabbana, Escada, Gucci, Chanel, Hermes, Fendi and others at prices slightly lower than continental ones.
Hello friends! We begin to tell you about the cities of the island of Tenerife and the first will be its capital - Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Let's find out the history of the city, how to get there, get an idea of the most interesting places that are worth visiting and develop a plan for visiting the capital for tourists. Let's get started!
A little history
In order to get to know the city in general terms, we will describe its history, which is known and written a thousand times on many sites. Let's not deviate from traditions, the capital is the capital. The history of Santa Cruz (translated from Spanish as Holy Cross), as such, begins with a small fishing village, which during the 16th century became an important port due to its location in the closed harbor of La Laguna. In the next century, the city becomes the administrative center, and in subsequent centuries - the capital of the entire archipelago.
It should be noted that since 1927, the city of Santa Cruz (Spanish: Santa Cruz de Tenerife) is not the only capital of the Canary archipelago. Every four years, the autonomous parliament changes its place of work and moves to the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spanish: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) on the island.
In 1494, Alonso Fernandez de Lugo landed on the coast of Añazo and hoisted the silver Holy Cross of the conquistadors (conquerors of New World territories, usually impoverished Spanish or Portuguese knights). The province was named in honor of this cross, and the cross itself is still kept in the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción temple.
After the arrival of the Spaniards on the island, a new impetus was given to its development and trade routes were laid through the archipelago. Due to its location, the Canary Islands were of interest not only to the Spaniards, which led to numerous attacks and attempts to conquer the islands. To this day, the Spaniards honor the most significant victories over the invaders. The three lion heads on the coat of arms of Tenerife represent three major victories: over Admiral Robert Blake in 1657, Admiral John Jennings in 1706 and Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson in 1797.
What to see as a tourist in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The capital is not a tourist resort at all and cannot boast of an abundance of hotels with beautiful swimming pools, because most tourists prefer to relax in the southern part of the island with a milder climate. But for Santa Cruz you can also set aside a day for excursions, shopping and just walking. In the article about the sights of Tenerife, we already wrote about interesting places in the capital that are worth seeing.
Here you won’t find a large number of historical monuments like in La Laguna, but there is something to see, it’s still the capital.
For those interested in churches and temples
Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Spanish: Iglesia de la Concepción) - this is where the Holy Cross of the conquistadors, which we talked about at the beginning of the article, is kept. Emphasizing the historical importance of the church in the spread of Catholicism, it bears the title "Iglesia Matriz" (Mother Church), and is popularly called the "Cathedral of Santa Cruz", although it is not a cathedral.
Initially, a small chapel was built on the site of today’s temple; later, in its place, the first temple in Tenerife was erected and the first parish on the island was formed. Until 1638, the temple was called the Temple of the Holy Cross (Spanish: Santa Cruz), hence the name of the city. The construction of today's capital began from the square where the temple is located.
Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi
The second most important, after the Temple of the Immaculate Conception, is the Catholic Church of St. Francis of Assisi (Spanish: Iglesia de San Francisco de Asís). It is located near the Museum of Fine Arts (Spanish: Museo Municipal De Bellas Artes).
Masonic Temple
The Masonic Temple (Spanish: Templo Masónico de Santa Cruz de Tenerife) is a national architectural monument. The building has been closed for about 26 years; it is currently undergoing historical restoration and it is not possible to get inside. The façade of the building is decorated with sphinxes, and under the roof of the building there is a bas-relief of the Masonic symbol “The All-Seeing Eye”.
Attractions
The symbol of the city and the most recognizable building with unusual architecture is the Auditorio de Tenerife concert hall (Spanish: Auditorio de Tenerife), which includes chamber and symphony halls. It was featured on one of the postage stamps, and the acoustics of the hall are considered one of the best in the world.
Very close to the Auditorio de Tenerife is the old fort of Castillo Negro (Spanish: Castillo Negro) or Castillo de San Juan (Spanish: Castillo de San Juan) - the castle of St. John the Baptist, which has historical significance for the city.
Museums
Fans and those interested in science and history can visit museums. I wouldn’t go especially for them, but you can take a look when passing by.
Archaeological Museum of Nature and Man(Spanish: Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre).
For those who love archaeology, geology, fossils and artifacts.
(Spanish: Museo Militar Regional de Canarias).
It is here that the El Tigre cannon is displayed, the shot from which Nelson lost his right arm (at least, so it is commonly believed).
(Spanish: Tenerife Espacio de las Artes).
Several rooms for different types of art (cinema, photography, painting, etc.), as well as a library.
(Spanish: Museo Municipal De Bellas Artes).
Several galleries with a wide variety of exhibits. Various exhibitions are also held.
Squares and parks
Plaza de España
Plaza de España (Spanish: Plaza de España) is the main and largest square in the Canary Islands. It was built on the site of the San Cristobal Castle, the walls of which are still preserved and can be admired in the underground gallery.
The central element of the Plaza de España is a monument - a tower (Spanish: Monumento de los Caidos) in the shape of a cross with an observation deck at the top, dedicated to those killed during the civil war. Below the monument there is an empty underground chapel, and next to it there is a group of sculptures and a huge lake with sea water and a fountain.
The consecration throughout the area is made in the form of garlands with lamps that look like flowing drops of water. An integral part of the square is the Avenue of the Duke of St. Helena (Spanish: Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena) planted with trees.
Plaza de la Candelaria
Plaza de la Candelaria (Spanish: Plaza de la Candelaria) is the second square located near Plaza de España. On it there is a monument to the patroness of the Canary archipelago - the Holy Virgin of Candelaria, dating back to the 18th century. Initially, the statue consisted of nine figures - four statues of Guanches (the indigenous local inhabitants of the island) guarding the Virgin Mary, four little angels riding dolphins, and the Virgin Mary herself holding a baby in her arms. During the restoration in 1928, the angels were removed from the composition due to severe damage caused by English soldiers in 1825.
Parque Garcia Sanabria
Park Garcia Sanabria (Spanish: Parque Garcia Sanabria) is the largest city park, botanical garden and a favorite meeting place for the capital's residents. There is also a flower bed with a “Flower Clock” and alleys with sculptures of the last century, and in the central square with a fountain there are sculptures of Mayor Garcia Sanabria and Doctor Guigo, thanks to whom this park was created.
La Granja Park, Parque de La Granja
La Granja Park (Spanish: Parque de La Granja) is an excellent park with a children's playground, several sculptures, attractions and sports equipment.
Palmetum Park, Palmetum
The Palmetum Park and Botanical Garden (Spanish: Palmetum), built on a former city dump, today is an excellent place for a walk and relaxation. The park is home to about 400 species of palm trees from all over the world, many of which are on the verge of extinction. On the official website you can visit the park in 3-D mode.
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday
- from 11:00 to 14:00 (last entry at 13:15)
- from 16:00 to 18:00 (last entry at 17:15)
- Ticket price:
- 4 euros for adults
- 2.80 euros for children under 12 years old
Shops and shopping
We already had one where we mentioned the main shopping centers of the capital.
- Huge shopping center Santa Cruz
- Trading house El Corte Inglés (Spanish: El Corte Inglés)
- Meridiano (Centro Comersial Meridiano) - a classic shopping center with a cinema
- And we haven’t talked about Calle de Castillo yet; it is located near Plaza de España and Plaza Candelaria. This is a pedestrian street with many shops, among which you can find crazy things. When planning walks around the capital and this street in particular, do not forget about the siesta; most shops and government offices are closed during the daytime hours from approximately 13:00 to 16:30 - 17:00.
Things to do in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The majority of bars and restaurants in the capital are aimed at local residents, not tourists. This is reflected in the opening hours and the menu offered, so you won’t find vibrant nightlife here.
However, every year, during two weeks of February, Canarians forget about work and a slow lifestyle and immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere of the carnival. A large number of tourists come to the capital, the streets are filled with crowds of people, divided into two categories. The first is the official participants of the carnival: musicians, costumed dance and vocal groups, up to fifty groups and more than a hundred associations. The second group is ordinary spectators, city residents and tourists.
Preparations begin immediately after the end of the previous carnival; throughout the year, various choreographic festivals, competitions are held and the theme of the upcoming holiday is developed.
The celebrations themselves are divided into several stages:
- The Choice of the Carnival Queen (Spanish: Gala de Eleccion de la Reina) is a grandiose performance broadcast throughout the country.
- The first procession is a public event called the Announcing Cavalcade (Spanish: Cabalgata Anunciadora), which announces the arrival of the carnival in the city. Tickets for this procession are not needed; people will walk like a multi-colored snake through the streets of the city and rejoice at the beginning of the holidays.
- - a key event of the holiday that cannot be missed. It will last more than four hours and will end with fireworks and festivities until the morning.
- The funeral of the sardine (Spanish: Entierro de la Sardina) symbolizes the end of the carnival - an ironic procession with a huge cardboard effigy of a sardine, which is burned in the square, in general, the Spanish “Maslenitsa”.
City beach of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Most of the coast of Santa Cruz is occupied by the port and there is absolutely nowhere to swim. Therefore, it is considered urban (Spanish: Playa de las Teresitas), located a few kilometers from the capital in the town of San Andres. A barrier pier was built along the beach, so there are practically no waves there and the water warms up faster.
Playa de las Teresitas is the only beach on the island with golden sand brought from the Sahara in the 70s. The beach is wide, well equipped and has a length of about 1200 meters. The only thing I don’t like there is the constant wind and fine sand in the face (perhaps we were so lucky with the weather).
You can get to it from the city by car or public transport.
Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is rightfully considered the largest port in Tenerife and the second most important port in Spain. It leads in passenger turnover, is the largest fishing port in the Canary Islands and thanks to it, it maintains connections not only with the rest of the islands of the Canary archipelago, but also with mainland Spain.
How to get to the capital
Of course, you can get to Santa Cruz by car along the TF-1 highway from the south of the island and along the TF-5 from the north. From the south, from the Las Americas bus station, there are also regular buses 110 (express) and 111, which will take you to the capital in just an hour and a half.
In the video you can see the main attractions and look at Santa Cruz de Tenerife from a bird's eye view.
Of course, this is not everything that is in Santa Cruz, but only the most basic. In the future, we will talk about other interesting places, so don’t miss our blog updates. And finally, you can download the official tourist map of the city.
The Canary Islands are an archipelago of several islands located off the west coast of Africa. Thanks to its unique nature and comfortable climate, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations.
Holidays in the Canaries
The Canary archipelago includes seven large and several small islands. They are often called the “islands of eternal spring”, since the weather here is favorable for relaxing on the beaches and visiting numerous attractions almost all year round.
Important! Canaries is one of the autonomous territories belonging to Spain, therefore Russian citizens need a Schengen visa to visit them.
The islands have a preferential tax system and prices for many goods are noticeably lower than in most European countries.
Tenerife
Each island has its own characteristics. Thus, Gran Canaria is famous for its good tourist infrastructure, Lanzerote is known for its unique “lunar” landscapes resulting from a volcanic eruption, and Fuerteventura has a large number of spacious sandy beaches.
The most famous and popular island among tourists is Tenerife. It has a number of advantages. There are a variety of beaches, both pebble and sandy, unique nature, including relict forests, gorges and the famous Teide volcano, as well as beautiful cities with interesting architecture, fascinating amusement and amusement parks.
Public transport is well developed. Bus service connects almost all settlements with a network of regular routes. There are two international airports. Sea ferries connect Tenerife with other islands - Gran Canaria, Gomera.
Note! Good tourist infrastructure includes a number of hotels of varying degrees of comfort and price categories. Renting apartments and villas is also popular among vacationers.
Capitals of the Canary Islands
The capital of Tenerife is the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, located in the northern part. This is not only the main city of the island, but also one of the two capitals of the entire Canary archipelago. This is the permanent seat of the parliament of the autonomous region. The other capital city of Las Palmas is on the most populous island of the Gran Canaria archipelago. According to tradition, the government alternates its seat between these two cities every four years.
Santa Cruz Tenerife – history and attractions
Terisitas Beach
The age of the first settlements discovered on the site of modern Santa Cruz exceeds 2000 years. At that time, there was a settlement of the Anaga Guanches, the indigenous inhabitants of the Canaries. In 1494, the Spaniards, led by the conquistador Alanzo Lugo, landed in the town of Añasa. According to legend, when he stepped ashore, he installed a silver cross - in Spanish, Cruz, from which the name of the town of Santa Cruz came.
For a long time, the first capital of Tenerife remained the city of La Lugana, which had a more convenient and safe location. It was not until 1723 that Santa Cruz became the main city of the island. He took part in battles more than once. In memory of this, three leopards are depicted on the coat of arms. They represent three major victories won by the city's defenders.
In Santa Cruz Tenerife itself and its immediate surroundings there is a wide variety of attractions.
Additional Information! Near the city is the famous Terisitas Beach. It is covered with white sand, which was brought here from Africa by ship.
This is one of the most picturesque and popular beaches on the island. The bay is protected by breakwaters, so there are almost never large waves here.
Plaza de España in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is considered the symbol of the city and the main square of all the Canary Islands. Nearby is the fortress of San Cristobal and the building of the Municipal Council of Tenerife. In its central part, a Monument to the Fallen was erected, resembling a huge cross stretched upward.
Plaza de España
Auditorio Santa Cruz Tenerife is a concert hall with an unusual futuristic shape. It was built according to the design of Santiago Calatrava, the author of many memorable structures in Spain and other countries. The Auditorio looks especially impressive in the evening, when a special backlight mode is turned on.
On San Sebastian Avenue is the original building of the Mercado de Nuestra Señora de Africa market. The entrance is made in the form of a large arch, and the building itself is decorated with a clock tower.
Santa Cruz is an interesting city with colorful architecture and a rich history. Although there are many other attractions on the Tenerife map, it is worth staying here for 1-2 days.
The most convenient and economical option for living in the city is to choose apartments instead of a hotel. There are quite a lot of similar housing for rent and the choice is usually good. But still, if the trip is planned during peak dates - the May or New Year holidays, Catholic Christmas, it is better to look for accommodation as early as possible.
Additional Information! Having your own kitchen will give you the opportunity to use local products that are renowned for their high quality and affordable prices. Carrefour and Mercadona stores are distinguished by a rich assortment of seafood, fruits and vegetables.
Shopping lovers can recommend the large shopping centers Meridiano and El Corte Inglés. Here you can find boutiques of the world's leading clothing and footwear manufacturers, as well as high-quality local brands. Usually the best discounts are offered after the end of Christmas. The sales season usually lasts about a month. At this time you can make very profitable purchases.
Auditorio
The best way to get around the island is to use a car. Rental offices are located right at the airport. The quality of roads in Tenerife is high, and the cost of renting a car is significantly less than in mainland Spain.
If you don't plan to take a car, using buses is a good alternative. They are comfortable and equipped with air conditioning. If you have to travel a lot, it is better to purchase a special Bono Bus card. When using it, one trip costs significantly less than paying in cash. You can buy it at the airport and at ticket offices at bus stations. Drivers don't sell it.
Tenerife and its capital Santa Cruz are of great interest to tourists. Here you can visit picturesque beaches, as well as see interesting and varied attractions.