Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife Island, Canary Islands. Santa Cruz de la Sierra: Bolivia's Largest City Private Guides in Tenerife

The Canary Islands are an archipelago of several islands located close to west coast 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 "islands" eternal spring“, since the weather here almost all year round is conducive to relaxing on the beaches and visiting numerous attractions.

Important! Canaries is one of autonomous territories belong 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 large quantities 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 famous volcano Teide, as well as beautiful cities with interesting architecture, fascinating amusement and amusement parks.

Public transport is well developed. Bus service connects almost everything settlements 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 main city islands, 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 there is famous beach Terisitas. 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 - concert hall 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 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 famous high quality and have an affordable price. 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 Catholic 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 sights.

And it is the main port of the island. The second largest port in terms of passenger traffic is Los Cristianos, which is located in the south, 84 km from it. It is predominantly blown by north-eastern and south-western trade winds, the height difference between high and low tides is 2.7 meters. Divided into 4 separate deep water docks: Los Llanos, Anaga, Pesquera and Este harbors.

In 2016, it was ranked among the three largest ports in the world for Seatrade Cruise Med cruise traffic and shares this place among the ports of Southampton (UK) and Kai Tak (Hong Kong).

Port building

In the seaport building you will find: car rental, bar, toilet, ticket sales, recreation area and police. If you want to purchase tickets, it is better to do this through the website of the carrier company: Trasmediterranea, Naviera Armas, Fred. Olsen.

When arriving on a cruise ship to the island of Tenerife, you can always use the services of our company, for example, book an individual excursion with a Russian-speaking guide. If you are a group of friends, then you can reduce the cost of the trip by dividing the cost of the excursion in half with your friends, which is obvious, and order a minibus for up to 8 people. Our guide will be happy to provide you with interesting information And best places Tenerife islands.

Additionally, we have the opportunity to travel to any destination you choose; for this you can use the service of a driver with a car, with knowledge of Spanish and Russian and an excellent knowledge of the island. Any directions, you will be quickly taken to wherever you say it can be wine tour, any beach or take the funicular to Mount Teide. We offer you flexible tariffs, where payment is made for every 30 minutes, starting from the third hour of employment (the first two hours are limited). In addition, if you want to take a walk on your own in the outskirts of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, then you can get acquainted with the places that are interesting to visit near the port, for this follow the link: What to visit in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Have a nice holiday!

Destinations and carrier companies

Directions	Trasmediterranea	Naviera Armas	Fred. Olsen
Gran Canaria (Las Palmas)	4 hours 00 minutes	2 hours 45 minutes
Gran Canaria (Agaete)			1 hour 20 minutes
La Palma (Santa Cruz de La Palma)	5 hours 30 minutes
Lanzarote (Arrecife)	17:00	14 h. 30 min.
Fuerteventura (Puerto del Rosario)	20 hours 30 minutes	11 hours 30 minutes
Fuerteventura (Morro Jable)		6 hours 00 minutes
Cadiz	49 hours 00 minutes
Huelva		31 hours 15 minutes
Graciosa (Caleta de Sebo)		17:00
Times are approximate

History of the port

Since the arrival of the conqueror and military leader Javier Alonso Fernandez de Lugo, the port has become a connecting sea route for Tenerife. Javier Alonso, during the conquest, chose this bay as the most suitable and convenient place; and after the place was secured, it was made into a defensive fort in order to prevent any attempt at attack. Thus, this defensive support played a decisive role during the battle with the ancient Guanches, and in the future, against attacks by pirates and various invaders.

The port began to emerge on small beach, with the name “La Carnicería” (butcher shop), next to the “Santos” gorge (Spanish: Santos) with the adjacent small bay “Blas Díaz”, which went several meters into the ocean and served as protection from waves Many residents called this place "La Caletilla" (La Caletilla - cove), where local fishermen unloaded their catch and moored their boats. Initially, the location and security of the bay suited everyone, but over time there was an increase in boats, the development of trade, and soon the question of expanding the pier and its safety became acute.

In 1526, by order of Juan de Aguirre, the City Council of Tenerife requests financial assistance from the Royal Court. Having received a positive response, the first foundation is laid for the construction of a real port, with its further subsidies.

During construction, many new problems arise, some of them: unfavorable weather conditions, a strong storm in 1551, 1585 and 1600, entail a change in the reconstruction plan, the creation of additional fences, breakwaters and, of course, an increase in the cost of the project. After all, you need to make sure that all ships are safe, even during strong winds and hurricanes.

Despite the fact that the sea pier in which the defensive fortress was located had good security, the port never received overwhelming trade, although it was proclaimed “Main” by the Municipal Council. This happened due to the fact that a large commercial activities took over the ports in the cities of Garachico and La Orotava, as the wet northern climate Tenerife provided more harvests and wine production, and close accessibility from production to sea docks made the choice obvious.

Port fortresses of Santa Cruz

Following the expansion of the seaport and trade, in 1575 the Legislative Authority of the city of San Cristobal de La Laguna decided to build a fortress, which would be named after the name of the city itself “San Cristobal” or Saint Christopher. Two years later, on January 20, 1577, she entered military service to protect the coastline.

The Italian military engineer Leonardo Torriani (Leonardo Torriani 1559 - 1628) visited the island at the end of the 16th century and recommended that the monarch build two more bastions to strengthen the shore, which should be located in adjacent areas.

With the arrival of Major General Francisco de Andía, Torriani's recommendations are implemented, it is decided to establish the Paso Alto fortress in the La Alegria area to improve the protection of distant approaches. The idea was implemented in 1625 and would later play a decisive role in the defense and significant damage to the English army of Admiral Robert Blake on April 30, 1657 during the attack on Tenerife.

After 16 years, the third coastal tower “San Juan” (Spanish: San Juan) or “Black Fortress” was born in the town of Caleta de Negros in 1641, closing almost the entire coastline Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which in the future will inevitably have to participate in hostilities.

Port during the 18th century

During the 18th century, several important key moments occurred in the development of the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

There is progress at the level of internal communications, which significantly facilitates the movement of industrial cargo from the northern part of the island.

Accommodation General Captaincy Santa Cruz.

The emergence of a small bourgeois commercial class associated with the port.

A volcanic eruption in 1706 completely destroys the port of Garachico, which at that time had a very important commercial role in trade on the island. These premises lead to the consideration of the port in Santa Cruz as the main trading center.

The need for constant improvement of the docks raises the question of deepening the pier. In 1729, the military engineer Miguel Benito Herrán designed a plan for a new pier in the place where the San Cristobal fortress was located.

Later in 1741, the commander Don Andrés Bonito de Pignatelli entrusted the engineer Antonio La Rivière to work on the early design of Miguel Benito and the very next year La Rivière submitted his plan, which was studied in May 1742 in Madrid, but nevertheless, as in the first case, this project never saw the light of day.

7 years later, Commander Juan de Urbina tried to fulfill new project piers They sent out a request to influential businessmen to make gifts and donations in order to speed up and facilitate the implementation of their plans. This time, engineers Francisco La Pierre and Manuel Hernández introduced a new design plan. A year later, construction begins, in the place where it was previously planned, near the fortress of San Cristobal.

However, later in 1755, new bad weather caused severe defects in the breakwater. Merchants and port staff doubted the correctness of the project and suggested returning to the old bay of La Caleta for all activities. Nevertheless, in 1784 Andrés Amat de Tortosa, in collaboration with Francisco Jacot, began restoration work, finishing it in 1787.

Construction of a powder warehouse

The powder magazine (Spanish: Casa de la Pólvora) was designed by military engineer Francisco La Pierre in 1756 to store gunpowder, which was used by fortresses and weapons batteries. The powder warehouse undoubtedly has historical and architectural value in that its structure is in excellent condition, surviving to this day from the moment of construction. Located a few meters from the San Juan fortress, between the Tenerife Auditorium and the Cesar Manrique Marine Park.

The work was supervised by the military engineer Francisco Gozar from 1756 to May 24, 1758. It is a rectangular building of 10 × 30 meters of masonry, covered with a barrel vault. It could store up to 3,000 quintals of gunpowder without moistening it, being close to the ocean. The building had a lightning rod. In 1779, the powder warehouse was additionally lined with thick brick walls, carefully protecting it from cannon shots from the sea, in this moment they are gone, destroyed.

Abandoned in the 19th century and preserved as an artifact of a bygone era.

Construction of the Customs House (Real Aduana)

The general commander, Bonito Pignatelli, decided in 1742 to found a Customs building in the esplanade of the small bay of Blas Dias, square in shape, two floors, made of lime mortar and wood, with the decorative addition of marble from the island of Lanzarote. The building stood for almost two centuries, eventually it was demolished and a Post Office - Telegraph was built in its place.

19th century

Starting from the second half of the 19th century, the seaport experienced a period of strong prosperity, until 1950 it became the economic axis of the island. Primarily based on the cochineal trade (cochineal mealybug, natural red dye, carmine). The increasing demand for this product brings good economic benefits from the enactment of the Free Ports Law (Puertos Francos) in 1852.

Colonial routes: Geographical location The Canary Islands turned this place into a transit point for European powers. In addition, this fact contributed to the opening of many European companies. Most companies are encouraged by the good results of future port projects, which have led to an increase in the economic dynamism of the port. The Trade Council decided in 1845 to build a new pier with new safety measures. The project was entrusted to landscaping technician Pedro Maffiotte, with the intention of increasing ship traffic and therefore trade. In 1846, the famous civil engineer Francisco Clavijo y Plo arrived on the island to design roads, canals and ports. Up to this point, all work was designed by military engineers.

In 1852, the port of Santa Cruz was declared a major interest, which must meet all the new requirements of modern ports, which must have centers for trade contracting, an area for warehouses, areas for unloading materials and other necessary services.

The Clavijo Plan was approved in 1864, which proposed a profound improvement in the port facilities of the capital, starting reconstruction at the end of the 19th century, with the advent of new high-tech machines and technologies.

Port in the 20th century

At the beginning of the 20th century, in the lower rocky area called La Jurada, 50 tons of gunpowder and 65 kg of dynamite were used to extract 300,000 tons of building material for a new offshore platform. Stones from this quarry were used for the construction of the southern dam, which were delivered through railway. The first steam locomotive was brought to the island in 1890, soon followed by additional diesel locomotives manufactured by Henschel. One of these cars from 1924 has been preserved and can be found at the foot of the former quarry, near the TF-11 highway, which goes to Las Teresitas beach.

Over the past century, the port has been very sensitive to economic influences and highly vulnerable to external parties. One of the significant crises occurred in 1916, due to the severe reduction in international shipping and the activity of German submarines during the Second World War. After almost 40 years, since 1953, shipping has gradually recovered to the high level of previous years, which brings additional cash injections, development and support for the seaport of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Anaga Harbor (Darsena de Anaga)

Anaga Inner Harbor consists of 4 piers: Sur, Norte, Ribera and Enlace.

Norte Pier: Designed in 1909 and has little activity. This is where the missing Jet Foil stood in 1991. Currently, the historic steam ship La Palma, built in 1912, is preserved and moored here.

Pier Sur: Revived in the 19th century and extended in 1921. It is 1351 meters long and 12 meters deep. Now reserved for the berthing of large tourist cruise ships.

Ribera pier: Construction began in 1951. The structure of the port is quite complex, 269 meters are allocated for passengers, a fruit berth of 397 m and a main goods berth of 382 m. Its characteristics allow the mooring of up to two ships at the same time, both ferries and Ro-ships. Ro.

Enlace Wharf: Opposite the Plaza de Espana, this large area between the docks of Anaga and Los Llanos was a busy trading post of former times, with active trading of goods.

Eastern Harbor (Dársena del Este)

Consists of the Eastern seawall, the Contenedores pier and the Bufadero pier.

The eastern dam is used as a technical intermediate port for tankers and longboats. It is where ore cargo ships, pneumatic ships and oil tankers carry out their operations.

Contenedores (Container) Berth: Forms a space with a capacity of 5000 TEU, for loading and unloading of large container ships.

Bufadero Quay: 421 meters long and 14 meters deep, was opened in 1993 and has an area of 130,000 m2, which can accommodate a 6,000 TEU container ship. Reconstruction is currently underway to increase capacity.

Pesca Harbor

Designed for economic sector development operations, as well as the placement of sports courts.

Los Llanos Harbor

Consists of the Dam and the Ribera II pier

Dam: 1426 m long and 8-12 meters deep, currently used for special traffic. There is also a recreation area (crew change) for permanently floating shipyards.

Berth Ribera II: Accommodates two adjustable docks of 400 and 470 meters each and functions to accommodate RO-RO ships and container ships.

Lighthouse

Identification marine lantern - La Farola del Mar lighthouse del Mar), built by Henry Leapaute, who arrived from Paris in May 1862. This is one of the previously operating lighthouses of the southern pier. Its work began on December 31, 1863 (9 years after the adoption of the “Free Ports” law in 1852), and was active until 1954, when it became useless with modern requirements for port development.

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 - two largest islands 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, car noise, boulevards and sidewalks. The population of the city is about 220 thousand people, by Russian standards this is not very Big city, but here he 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 holiday 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, signifying 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 famous carnival in Rio. This tradition was brought here by the Spaniards from the continent, or rather, from Cadiz. Annual festivities take place all over the island, but it is in the capital that the costume show is organized in the most high 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 its high-quality selection of goods and manufacturers. 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.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the map

Santa Cruz de Tenerife(Spanish) Santa Cruz de Tenerife) is the capital of the island of Tenerife, and one of the two capitals of the Canary Islands. It has such a long name because there are quite a lot of cities with the name Santa Cruz (Holy Cross), especially in Spanish-speaking countries. But the locals simply call it Santa Cruz. In Russian translation it is often called Santa Cruz.
It was in this place in 1493 that the Spanish conquistadors, after landing on the coast, set up east coast Tenerife wooden cross, hence the name of the city.
Santa Cruz is home to the Parliament of the Canary Islands, half of the ministries and boards of the government of the Canary Islands, as well as the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands. The residence of the President of the Canary Islands is located in Santa Cruz.
As already mentioned, Santa Cruz is one of the two capitals of the Canary Islands, the other is in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, on the island of Gran Canaria, and these two capitals periodically replace each other in this role, and every four years The presidential residence changes its location.
Modern Santa Cruz is the most big city on the entire island of Tenerife, its population is about 200 thousand people. The city is not particularly attractive for tourists due to the small number historical monuments and weak tourism infrastructure. In fact, this industrial city with a cargo and passenger port and roads crowded with cars, which does not really attract vacationers. In addition, within the city there are no beaches for which Tenerife is so famous.

However, if you have already found yourself here, do not be upset - there is also something to look at and places to take a walk. This and wonderful beauty Plaza de España And Auditorio de Tenerife a huge concert hall, fantastic shape and Obelisk de la Candelaria, which is one of the main sculptural monuments of the city and the “Church of the Immaculate Conception” and much more. The city market is very beautiful Mercado Nuestra Senora de Africa, where flowers, fruits, vegetables and spices are sold. A must visit Garcia Sanabria Park, the largest urban park in the Canary Islands, much like Botanical Garden.
And for lovers of the exotic - two monuments to the fascist dictatorship of General Franco, where else can you find something like this? This is famous Monument to the Fallen and a monument to General Franco himself.
And of course, it must be mentioned that Canary Islands, due to their remoteness, sales tax is reduced, and, accordingly, lower prices for some types of goods (alcohol, tobacco, perfumes, jewelry) compared to mainland Europe. Since we did not use these benefits, I will quote from the tourist guide: “A sophisticated “shopaholic” should go to the north of the island to the capital of Santa Cruz.” Most of the shops and boutiques are concentrated in the area of the central square of Spain.

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 thanks 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 there southern part islands 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

Second in importance, after the Temple of the Immaculate Conception, catholic church Saint 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 facade 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 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 halls different types arts (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 in Plaza España is a monument - a tower (Spanish: Monumento de los Caidos) in the shape of a cross with observation deck upstairs, dedicated to those who died during 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 The square is the Avenue of the Duke of St. Helena (Spanish: Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena) lined 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. The statue originally consisted of nine figures - four statues of Guanches (indigenous local residents islands) guarding the Virgin Mary, four little angels riding dolphins and the Virgin Mary herself with 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 favorite place meetings of capital 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 park-botanical garden Palmetum (Spanish: Palmetum), built on a former city dump, today is perfect 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 mall 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 España and 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 siesta, most shops and government agencies closed during the day 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 is also Shuttle 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 cities.

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