Santa Cruz de Tenerife - a short guide to the capital. Santa Cruz de Tenerife - the capital of Tenerife and sometimes the Canary Islands Plaza de España
We were in Tenerife before the cruise, so we didn’t consider visiting the Teide volcano. This time I was torn between visiting the Barranco del Infierno gorge near the city of Masca and a trip to Parque Natural de Anaga in the north of the island. In the end, we chose a trip to the Anaga Mountains. We love mountain landscapes very much, and on the first day we could still torment my husband with a trip along mountain serpentines
Booked on cicar.com Opel Astra for 60.28 €. Could have taken Opel Corsa for 55, but we were afraid that if they didn’t upgrade it and give us a car of the same class, it would be difficult to drive on mountain roads.After last year’s trip to France, my husband already knew that for mountain roads you can’t take a car of the lowest class.As a result we gotSeat Lion with automatic transmission. She coped with her task perfectly.
Our route: port - El Bailadero - Chamorga - Taganana - Bajo el Roque - Almáciga - Benijo - El Draguillo - Barranco De Afur, Tamadite - Roque Negro - Mirador Pico Del Inglés - Mirador Cruz Del Carmen - Mirador De Jardina - port. You can look it up on Google.
There was also the village of Taborno on the route, but we didn’t stop because time was running out.
I enjoyed the trip; we saw things that are rarely shown to tourists on the island.
In general, I want to come back to Tenerife and come back. Despite its rather small size, the island has some inexplicable aura of attraction.
If you're interested, there are a lot of photos in my album on Yandex.Photos.
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Great island of eternal spring
From Los Rodeos Norte airport to the capital Santa Cruz is about 15-20 kilometers. A regular green bus runs to the central city bus station every half hour. But this option was not suitable for us with our luggage. At the exit from the arrivals hall, a separate door with a control desk leads to the taxi. Before we had time to approach, the manager quickly showed a taxi on the street, ready to serve us. We arrived at the Taburiente Hotel in about twenty minutes. The taxi meter at the boarding starts immediately at 3 euros 20 cents. Upon arrival in the city center, it was 18 euros and kopecks.
There are no quadruple rooms in the hotel, we had to take two double rooms for 56.5 euros per day (without breakfast). Only 113 euros for two double rooms. The hotel is normal, there is a pool on the roof, although the water was cool. We got some sleep, left our things in the storage room and went for a walk around Santa Cruz.
Parque García Sanabria is a favorite recreation spot in the city center. There are many flower beds, fountains, monuments, alleys, like a botanical garden. After walking around the city, we realized that we were simply hungry. The hotel was booked without breakfast... We spontaneously decided to go to the port for registration, eat on board and continue exploring the city. A taxi to the port cost 9 euros, registration was quick.
Having eaten delicacies on the first day of landing at the hospitable AIDAsol,decided to go on a self-guided tour of the city again Santa Cruz. It was afternoon, about three o'clock in the afternoon. Everyone aboard at eight pm.There is not much free time - about five hours. We followed the blue line through the ferry waiting room to the city, to the central square of Spain in search of tourist bass - our main lifesaver. The price of an adult ticket is 16 euros, a child ticket is 8.5 euros.
There is a Russian audio guide.The literary text is normal, the speaker's voice is without an accent.Interval frequency 30 minutes.The total duration of the trip is 1 hour.
How different it is, this city turned out to be Holy Cross on the island of Tenerife. Colonial-style palace houses in the city center.
A glass new building on former wasteland outskirts with its twin towers.Narrow streets, tunnels, parks.Simple box houses crawling along the mountain slopes.
While we were exploring the city from the height of the second floor of a tourist buswe were overtaken by the high-speed tram Tramvia, which connects
port with the town of La Laguna (San Cristobal de La Laguna),the former capital of the island. R The idea came up to take a ride to La Laguna today.The final stop of the light rail is located next to the Auditorio.There is a large transport hub with a bus station intercambiador, from where buses go to all directions of the island.
We boarded the tram at the Fundacion stop closest to Plaza España.It is the second one from the Intercambiador bus station. Tickets (1 euro 35 cents) are sold from vending machines at stops.
In La Laguna from the La Trinidad terminus to the historical centertwo hundred to three hundred meters along the pedestrian zone.
Near the tram terminus in La Laguna "La Trinidad"There are many small shops with good discounts.This is where we shopped in full!The shoe sizes matched.6 (six) euros per pair of boots- Well, where did you see this...Any shopaholic could have a nervous breakdown at these prices.
The historical center of the former capital of the island - La Laguna (San Cristobal de La Laguna)gives the impression of peace and tranquility.Here life moves slowly as usual, even tourists here are not always in a hurry (like us),but relaxed people who enjoy evening gatherings accompanied by guitar chords. I didn’t want to leave La Laguna, but it was time to return to the port.
Upon returning a week later to Santa Cruz, we booked the Silken Atlantida 4* hotel for 2 nights - 52 euros (without breakfast) for a standard room. The hotel is really worthy! I recommend it before a cruise.
We rented a taxi at the port for the whole day until 20.00 in the evening according to the following program: unloading suitcases at the hotel, a trip to the Teide National Park to the cable car. There's a two-hour wait until we climb to the crater. Then a trip to the Siam water park on the other southernmost tip of the island of Tenerife. There is another wait - a couple of hours before the water park closes. And return to the port capital of Santa Cruz to our hotel. According to the speedometer, this circle around the island is about 200 kilometers, for about the same amount of euros we negotiated with the driver.
The trip through the Teide National Park, up to an altitude of more than 2000 meters to the foot of the volcano, took place in the fight against sleep, since at the beginning we drove through a wooded part where eucalyptus trees grew. This special healing and intoxicating smell of eucalyptus lulls you to sleep better than any lullaby. It’s good that the observation decks are so frequent here that we stopped at all the Miradors about a dozen times to wake up our sleep. We rose above the clouds along the western part of the island and saw the towns of Orotrava and Puerto de La Cruz from above. The weather was clear and two neighboring islands appeared before our eyes - La Gomera and La Palma.
The central and main point of the serpentine road through the Teide National Park is the lower station of the cable car to the Teide crater. The slope of the volcano is so steep that there is no road to the crater (no serpentines will help),
and besides, the volcano has been declared a natural monument by UNESCO, where any construction is prohibited.
This is a site at about 2500 meters above sea level. The TELEFERICO DEL TEIDE cable car takes tourists up another kilometer to 3555 meters. The rest is just under two hundred meters to the finishing 3718 meters on foot along a beaten path.
The price of a ticket for the cable car to the Teide crater (round trip) is outrageous, robbery in broad daylight. 25 euros per adult and 12.5 euros per child. The only thing more expensive is the Sicilian Etna - there is general skinning there - 60 euros per nose.
The ascent and descent on the cable car itself is also a tourist attraction. The views are stunning. At the top there are many signs and information stands for the highest miradors in the Canaries. There are three viewing platforms at the crater, on different sides of the island. The volcanic landscapes are quite Martian.
To get to the crater you need to show the ranger at the top station of the cable car the “adviso” - a free permit to visit the Teide peak. We didn’t have one, but under the guise of a photo shoot we “freely” passed the Rubicon.
The weather turned out to be so clear that on the other side of the Teide peak we managed to photograph another island - Gran Canaria!
Having taken almost a record number of photographs from all the volcanoes visited on Teide, we hurried to go down to the lower station of the cable car. There we were given a “Certificate for visiting the Teide volcano”. The photo shows that it was in vain that they ignored the advice to apply sunscreen in the mountains. The tan stuck to my face instantly! Well, everything suits the scoundrel...
And here we are at our next goal - the SIAM PARK water park. The ticket price is 33 euros, but it is more profitable to buy a double ticket for two parks:
SIAM+LORO for 56 euros.
The only bummer is that the schedule for our day was shortened to 17.00. And we hoped that until 19.00 (as in high season). The clock says half past four. To pay such an expensive price for an hour and a half... The toad was strangled for about five minutes, but I really wanted to. We came in for good reason. There were practically no queues and we managed to ride all the rides several times.
The mood after extreme water procedures in the water park was 120 points on a scale of 100.
The stereotype about the Canaries as a warm paradise, where in winter and spring Europeans warm their bones and get relaxation - the purest TRUTH!
The very south of Tenerife, where the tourist enclaves of Las Americas and Los Cristianos are located - only here you can find a “bounty - a heavenly pleasure”. Local territorial miracle! In the port of Santa Cruz it can rain and strong winds blow, in the Teide mountains there may be snow, and in Las Americas there can be warm water and hot sand.
There are breakwaters here that dampen the ocean waves, and the ocean water on the shallow shore quickly warms up to comfortable temperatures.
The most popular beach here among partying young people is MONKEY BEACH. Here, from evening to morning, a multi-hour open-air disco with hit DJs and go-go performances with freaks takes place non-stop.
Oh, it’s a pity - I didn’t immediately think of taking a post-cruise hotel not in the cold-windy port of Santa Cruz, but in the party-warm Las Americas. After the water park we could have stayed here on the beach to relax, but we just did another photo shoot, “Me and the Palm Tree,” on MONKEY BEACH, the warmest beach in the Canary Islands.
So, those who want to stay in Tenerife for a couple of days after the cruise, choose hotels in the south of the island, near MONKEY BEACH in Las Americas. It is, of course, far from the northern port - 60 kilometers, but the “heavenly pleasure” is worth the extra money for the transfer. But the water park is nearby. By the way, the continuation of the banquet in the water park on the second day costs 10 euros, upon presentation of yesterday's ticket. That is, a two-day entrance to the water park costs 43 euros.
P.S. In fact, the beach is called PLAYA DE TROYA (a triple beach consisting of three small coves separated by breakwaters), and MONKEY BEACH CLUB is the name of the club that hosts discos of the same name. But it was the name MONKEY BEACH that stuck and now everyone knows where it is.
The next evening after disembarking at 19.30, we purchased AirEurope tickets from the northern airport of Tenerife North (Los Rodeos) to Barcelona. I specifically bought these tickets so that I could devote another whole day of daylight to relaxation (excursions) on the island. The plans included a visit to the bird zoo and dolphinarium LORO PARQUE, which is located in the town of Puerto de la Cruz on the west coast of Tenerife, 30 kilometers from the capital.
From the central bus station of Santa Cruz, regular buses No. 102 and No. 103 depart there once every half hour according to the schedule. Ticket price - 5 euros.
Our hotel was well located - just one block from the bus station, a 5-minute walk. The largest chain shopping center, El Corte Inglas, was built near the bus station. The day before, we bought a lot of cuts, sauces, etc. in the grocery supermarket. For dinner, for breakfast, and even leftovers to take to Loro Parque for a lunch snack.
We arrived in 40 minutes. From the final stop of the intercity bus to Loro Parque, it’s a twenty-minute walk along the embankment.
The signs won't let you get lost. For those who do not like walking, a tourist train runs along the embankment.
The air temperature at noon warmed up to 29 degrees Celsius. Local beaches are gradually filling up with vacationers. There is an ocean wave and the water is cooler compared to Las Americas.
For very curious tourists who prefer to hear additional information from tour guides in Loro Parque, there is a paid option “Discovery Tour”, lasting 1 hour 45 minutes and costing 10 euros. And if it weren’t for Alexey, who leads the “discovery tour” in Loro Parque, our impressions would have been only contemplative, but they also turned out to be meaningful. Thanks to him, we learned a lot of interesting things about the behind the scenes of Loro Parque.
In addition, Alexey, having heard that we wanted to leave the Discovery Tour early, since we needed to go back to Santa Cruz to the hotel to get our suitcases, and then to the northern airport for registration, offered to stay until the end of the Discovery Tour. and then use his transfer. So lucky, so lucky! Another transport problem resolved itself. We even arrived at the airport for check-in much earlier.
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Loro Park on the island of Tenerife
This island is unique for its natural beauty and most cruisers go towards the Teide volcano. But we decided to dedicate this day to our twelve-year-old son. It’s decided - we’ll go to Loro Park for the whole day. To do this, we need to get to the town of PUERTO DE LA CRUZ on the west coast of Tenerife, 30 kilometers from the capital.
There are two options for delivering the body to the park. The first one is a taxi. And the second is a shuttle bus. Regular buses No. 102 and No. 103 depart from the Santa Cruz central bus station every half hour according to schedule. Ticket price - 5 euros. In order to spend more time in the park, we decided to go there by taxi, and back, slowly, by bus.
The drive is quite long... We cross the entire island. The road is wide and fast. Somewhere in the middle of the journey, the taxi driver suggests stopping at a mirador to take a photo. From here there is a wonderful view of the Teide volcano.
LORO PARK is open daily from 8:30 to 18:45. Entrance price to the park: adults - 33 euros, children (up to 11 years old) - 22 euros. Park website: http://www.loroparque.com/default.aspx
At the entrance we buy a branded yellow baseball cap for 1 euro. We take a photo with two cockatoos. Photos can be collected upon leaving the park. Price - 8 euros.
As soon as you cross the threshold of the park, you immediately find yourself in a green, blooming paradise.
Four types of performances are held daily in different parts of Loro Parque: fur seals, dolphins, killer whales and parrots. Each - several times.
Seal show 09:30 | 12:30 | 14:15 | 15:30 | 17:00
Dolphin show 11:00 | 13:00 | 14:45 | 16:00 | 17:30
Orca show 11:45 | 13:45 | 15:15 | 16:30
Parrot show 10:30 | 11:30 | 12:30 | 14:00 | 15:00 | 16:00 | 17:00
The duration of all performances is approximately 30 minutes.
In general, the word “most” will constantly accompany you during your visit to Loro Parque. The Penguin Planet penguinarium is no exception - the largest in the world. 180 birds have gathered under its roof, for which a special cannon shoots 12 tons of snow every day.
Everything is thought out to the smallest detail. To prevent people from crowding, a moving belt was made. You stand on it... and at low speed you go around the entire penguinarium in a circle.
It’s very good that you can watch penguins both on ice and under water. I would never have thought that they were so fast. They float like torpedoes.
At 11 o'clock we watched a dolphin show.
And at 12:00 there is a killer whale show. It deserves attention because not every zoo can afford them. These animals moved to Loro Park permanently from the USA relatively recently - in 2006. And they immediately took pride of place on its logo in the form of a large tail drawn between a dolphin and a parrot.
In anticipation of the arrival of the most human-friendly predators, a new arena adequate to their size was built. The pool has a diameter of 120 m and holds 22.5 million liters of sea water!
If you want to watch killer whales from the front rows, take care of a cape in advance (3 €, sold here). Otherwise, you will have to walk around the park wet for the rest of the time. “Dangerous” places are marked with appropriate stickers. By the way, no two shows are the same, even during the day: killer whales are capricious, so trainers adapt to their mood.
Don't miss the aquarium building: it is located near the exit. There, in addition to many sea and river inhabitants, you will be delighted by a glass tunnel with sharks swimming directly overhead. The aquarium in Loro Parque is decent.
The impressive territory of Loro Parque, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation, is home to tigers, chimpanzees, jaguars, a couple of sloths, a flock of flamingos, a family of charming meerkats, crocodiles and huge turtles.
Meerkats, it seemed to me, are the children’s favorite. Watching them is a pleasure. Funny animals. Danila was barely pulled away from them.
Somehow time has passed unnoticed and it’s time for us to leave. A taxi driver was already waiting for us at the exit. We reached Santa Cruz without incident.
It is clear that this is a large and modern city. Apparently we’ll have to come here at least once again anyway, since we didn’t see anything except Loro Parque.
We still had a couple of hours left and walked around the city a little near the port.
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The day in Tenerife was a success!
In Tenerife, I really wanted to go to Loro Parque. The friend didn't mind. I knew before the cruise that it would take a long time to get there by regular bus. We found a married couple from Yaroslavl on the ship who had been encouraged to take a taxi ride. The price at the berth is fixed - 50 EUR. For four it is quite normal, because... the bus costs 5.
We arrived in about 50 minutes, and also made a couple of stops for photos with beautiful views. The uncle driver was cordial. He immediately offered to take us back, but we didn’t know how long it would take us, incl. refused. Then he suggested calling him on his cell phone, like, “Walk as long as you want, I’ll arrive at the right time.” Agreed.
The park is incredible! This is amazing! Beautiful, very well-groomed. It is immediately obvious that it is kept with love. We made it to the whole show, although we were running. First, the dolphin show at 11:00, from there we ran to the killer whale show at 11:45, then the fur seal show at 12:30. Parrot show at 14:00. Between them they walked around the entire park. I really liked the penguinarium and there is no need to go to Antarctica!
So unnoticed, 4 hours flew by in the park. We called the driver, he arrived in 15 minutes. Apparently he was a taxi driver somewhere around here.
Approaching the city, they asked us to drop us off at the Auditorio de Tenerife building. In half an hour we just walked along the embankment to the port through the beautiful Plaza de Espana.
The day in Tenerife was a success! And the weather was wonderful, slightly cloudy, 20 degrees. It’s a pity that we didn’t have time to go to the town La Laguna, everyone loves it.
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Cruise date - February 2010
Liner:
beautiful volcanic island
We traveled around the island in a rented car. IMHO, the best option! In the north-west of Tenerife there are the remains of an old volcano, which centuries-old erosion has turned into a very picturesque mountain range.
In its center is the village of Masca, which is reached by a serpanine road. Let me tell you right away - not for the faint of heart! But it's beautiful!
In the center of the island proudly rises one of the most massive island volcanoes in the world - Peak Teide, the last eruption of which was only a couple of hundred years ago, that is, just about by geological standards! The peak itself is quite good; there is even a cable car leading to its top, up to a height of 3600 meters.
Teide offers sweeping views of a barren world of rust-red craters and black lava flows framed by fluffy oceanic clouds. The cold at the top in winter is terrible, snow often falls and the wind just knocks you down!
Molten lava flows, cooling and contracting, formed bizarre patterns of cracks. Over time, erosion exposes the basalt and local tourism departments happily begin to promote new attractions. Let's say this miracle of nature is positioned as a “stone rose”...
An undoubted and somewhat unexpected plus of Tenerife was that the slopes of the volcanoes are overgrown with gorgeous pine forests, which are very pleasant to walk through! There are a choice of steep trails with a rise in height, and gentle foresters' roads running traverse along the slopes.
In general, the Canary Islands, by Spanish standards, do not shine with architectural delights, and the coast is often generally ugly, functional and overpopulated. But there are also quite nice places in the old colonial style. In Tenerife, I can recommend La Orotava.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a large city by Canarian standards, with a population of more than 200 thousand people. It got its name from the silver cross that the conquistadors hoisted when landing on the island. This cross is still kept today in the Church of Iglesia de la Concepcion, in Plaza España. Historically, Santa Cruz was a port town, but with the development of trade relations it acquired the significance of the administrative and business center of the island and from 1723 it became its capital. For many centuries, Tenerife was attacked by other countries, especially England. To protect the capital of the island, defensive fortresses and forts were built. One of the surviving structures from that era is Fort Castillo Negro, a silent witness to the 1797 battle in which Admiral Nelson lost his right arm.
There are few historically interesting buildings preserved in the city, but it is worth visiting the city. For the convenience of tourists, a distinctive red City Sightseeing excursion bus runs around the city, a ticket for which costs 16 € for adults and 8.5 € for children, the ticket is valid throughout the day.
The city center - Plaza de Espana - a space filled with water, looks unusual. The building on the square is the island's government. Not far away is the remarkable building of the Auditorio de Tenerife concert hall.
At the Museum of Nature and Man (Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre) you will learn about the origins of the island and its history, and see Guanche mummies.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is also suitable for shopping. The island's capital is home to many shops selling well-known brands. The most notable building is the El Corte Ingles department store, Europe's largest chain of department stores. The pedestrian street Calle de Castillo is also notable for its many shops. Check out the city market (Mercado Nuestra Senora de Africa), where you will find fresh vegetables and fruits, cheeses, and all kinds of spices.
Santa Cruz is a rather noisy and crowded city. Residents and guests of the city choose the large and beautiful city park Garcia Sanabria for walking and relaxing. Another great place for a walk is the Palmetum Botanical Garden.
And for a beach holiday they use the beautiful and large Playa de las Teresitas beach in the fishing village of San Andres, not far from the city, since the water area of the capital is a large and modern cargo and passenger port.
The capital's nightlife comes alive during major holidays, the grandest of which is Carnival. It is believed that in terms of brightness and scale, the local carnival is second only to the carnival in Rio de Janeiro.
How to get there
From the south of the island there are direct bus routes 111 or 110 (express) to the final stop (Intercambiador).
Tourists by car should take the TF-1 highway.
Weather in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Check out the weather in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for the next seven days.
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And the province of Spain of the same name, one of the two capitals of the Canary Islands, where their parliament is located. Surrounded by the steep cliffs of the Anaga mountain range, the city lies on the gentle slope of one of the mountains, descending to the harbor of the same name in the northeastern part of the island.
The city received its name from the silver Holy Cross of the conquistadors (Spanish: Holy Cross - Santa Cruz), which Alonso Fernandez de Lugo erected after landing on the Añaso coast in 1494. In common parlance, the city is called Santa Cruz, despite the fact that there are many cities with this name in the world. The official prefix to the name “de Tenerife” not only distinguishes it from others, but also symbolizes the status of the capital of the island.
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How to get there
Tenerife is the only island of the Canary archipelago that can be reached from Moscow without a transfer. There are two airports on the island: Reina Sofia in the south, near Los Cristianos, and Los Rodeos in the north, near the town of La Laguna. You can also reach the island by ferry from Transmediterrania. The ferry leaves from the city of Cadiz and takes 2 days.
From Tenerife you can get to any of the islands of the archipelago by plane or ferry. The most convenient and fairly economical option for traveling around the island is to rent a car.
Search for flights to Tenerife (closest airport to Santa Cruz de Tenerife)
Weather in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Tenerife is located at the latitude of the Sahara Desert - it is not surprising that it is warm here all year round. The average temperature in winter is +21 °C, in summer - +27 °C. The water temperature is +20 °C all year round.
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Beaches of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
In close proximity to the city there are two magnificent beaches: Taganana with the volcanic black sand common to these places, and the only yellow sand beach in all of Tenerife - Las Teresitas, one of the most popular beaches in the archipelago. This is a one and a half kilometer artificial beach, to which in the 1970s yellow sand from the African Sahara was brought by barges to replace the local black volcanic origin. The strip of beaches extends all the way to Mount La Esperanza, whose slopes are covered with plantations of Canarian pine trees.
Las Teresitas is the only yellow sand beach in all of Tenerife and one of the most popular in the archipelago.
There are several diving centers around Santa Cruz de Tenerife, suitable for divers of all levels. In addition to classic diving, scuba diving is popular here. You can also enjoy surfing, windsurfing and other water sports in Tenerife.
In these waters, the coral reefs of Devils Reef, Garden, Wall, underwater caves Groupers Cave and La Cueva del Roquete, as well as the sunken 70-meter ship Carbonero, favored by sharks, rays and barracudas, are of interest.
Maps of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Shopping
Many tourists come to Santa Cruz de Tenerife for shopping - the capital of the Canary Islands has firmly established its reputation as a “shopping paradise”. There are especially many shops, benches and boutiques on Plaza La Candelaria and the pedestrian street Calle de Castillo, perpendicular to the square.
At the city market Mercado de Nuestra Señora de Africa, located on San Sebastian Street, you can buy fruits, vegetables, flowers and mainly spices. The covered market, which looks like a spacious courtyard decorated with arches, is not at all like a European one and attracts tourists with its exoticism.
Restaurants in Santa Cruz de Tenerife primarily offer Canarian cuisine. In the bars, when it's tapas time, you can find an endless variety of Canarian dishes, as well as dishes from all over Spain.
Popular hotels in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Entertainment and attractions in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The facades of houses in a certain color scheme, decorated with wooden balconies, are the so-called Canarian style. There is a lot of greenery here; the old part of the city, surrounded by gardens, can be explored on foot, enjoying the historical sights. Any sightseeing tour of Santa Cruz de Tenerife starts from the traditional Plaza de España square. In the very center of the square is the monument to the Fallen in the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39.
Near the center, on Plaza La Candelaria, are the government building of Tenerife Cabildo Insular, the Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, as well as an interesting example of Spanish architecture of the 17th century - the Carta Palace. Of special mention are two churches in the city center in the Baroque style: St. Francis (17-18 centuries) and Iglesia La Conception (16-18 centuries), where the Holy Cross of the conquistadors, which gave the name to the city, is kept.
The name of one of the central squares of the city comes from the patroness of the island - the Black Virgin of Candelaria (Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, popularly called La Morenita). Essentially, we are talking about the appearance of the Virgin Mary to local residents, but since Africa is nearby, the Madonna introduced herself to the locals as a black woman.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The Natural History Museum houses evidence of the transformation of the Canary Islands into a modern tourist center - from its formation from the explosion of a volcano on the ocean floor and the history of the island's indigenous population, the Guanaches, to the glorious military history of which are the colors captured from Admiral Nelson after his unsuccessful attacks on the city. In addition, the island has a Military History Museum, located on the shore of the bay next to the Royal Yacht Club of Tenerife and the Nautical School.
Tenerife and the Canaries themselves, due to their location along the largest trade routes, have survived many attacks throughout their history by pirates, conquistadors and warlike fleets of European maritime powers. In memory of the largest victories of the Spaniards over the flotillas of the English admirals Blake, Jennings and Nelson, in addition to the Holy Cross of Conquest, three leopards are depicted on the coat of arms of Tenerife.
In El Principe Square there is the Municipal Museum of Painting and Sculpture, which exhibits paintings by Rieber, Bruegel, Madrazzo, Van Loo, as well as local artists. Among the modern symbols of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the quaint opera building of the Auditorio Tenerife, erected in 2003, and the twin towers of Torres de Santa Cruz, skyscrapers reaching a height of 120 m, stand out.
The history of Tenerife also has Russian pages: the route of the first Russian circumnavigation in 1803–1806 passed through this city, and Miklouho-Maclay visited there in 1866.
Excursions around Tenerife
In addition to the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, tourists can go on excursions to the ancient capital of the island - the city of La Laguna, now considered the cultural center of the island.
30 km southwest is the ancient colonial town of Orotava, as well as Puerto de la Cruz, where the famous Laura Park parrot park is located. Nearby there is a large botanical garden - Garcia Sanabria with an area of 67 thousand square meters. m, famous for its huge artificial iceberg with penguins and the largest dolphinarium in Europe.
Also from Santa Cruz de Tenerife you can go to the foothills of Anaga in the north-eastern part of the island or inland to the extinct volcano Teide (3718 m), which is located in the national park of the same name.
Walking around Santa Cruz de Tenerife
On the east coast of Tenerife is the religious center of the region, the city of Candelaria, and the city of Guimar, famous for its ethnographic park of the Pyramids of Guimar. Here there are six step pyramids built by the Guanaches, the natives of the Canary Islands, oriented strictly to the cardinal points, similar to the Egyptian ones.
Excursions to the island of La Gomera are organized from Tenerife: unlike other islands of the Canary archipelago, there is no volcanic activity on it, which preserves the magnificent tropical forests in their original form. In the center of the island is the evergreen Garajonay Natural Park, declared an international protected area by UNESCO.
It is believed that it was on the island of La Gomera that Christopher Columbus made his last stop on his way to the New World.
The noisiest and most popular resort towns in Tenerife are located in the south: El Médano, Playa de las Americas, Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje.
Perhaps the brightest event of the year in Tenerife is the February carnival, second in scale and beauty after the famous carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Carnival processions stretch throughout the island, but the most vibrant and exciting action always takes place in the capital.
The capital of the archipelago (Canary Islands), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is located in the northeast and is tightly surrounded by the Anaga mountain system.
History of the capital Tenerife
The city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife was founded in the 15th century on the site where the first Spaniards landed. These were far from tourists, and pursued very specific goals. The Empire needed to expand its own territories. A wooden cross was erected at the landing site of the Spaniards; this became a historical place and a starting point in the growth of the future capital of the Canary Islands. Years passed and Santa Cruz turned from a small port town into a modern metropolis, with many narrow streets in the old center, large squares and green park areas. And of course with gorgeous beaches and developed tourist infrastructure.
The most port city of the island
The conquistadors also noted the favorable geopolitical position of the future capital of the island; in their times, Santa Cruz de Tenerife became the most important port. Moreover, in our time it is considered the third largest and most important port in Spain. It is an important logistics hub in transcontinental trade routes, connecting Europe with Africa and the Americas. Every day in the port of Santa Cruz you can see ships flying the flags of different countries of the world. Small tourist ferries, as well as giant ocean liners, also stop here.
Attractions Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Of course, the capital of Tenerife does not live up to the title of metropolis: the entire city can easily be walked on foot. Let's take a walk through the very center of the city and learn about the main attractions of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. All of them are concentrated mainly near the Plaza de España. The central place in Plaza de España is occupied by a memorial in memory of the bloody Civil War of 36-39 of the last century. Not far from the square is the Church of St. Francis, built in the 17th century. Another attraction of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is worth paying attention to the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción church, dating back to the 16th century. Inside it is kept the same wooden cross erected by the first Spanish settlers, and this is not only a symbol of the capital, but also of the entire Canary Islands. Walking to Plaza Candelaria, you will reach the main pedestrian street of the capital - Calle Castillo. Tourist and shopping life is in full swing here with shops, restaurants and cafes. The city's central market is located nearby: Mercado de Nuestra Señora de Africa. Here you can buy fresh products for dinner or try ready-made dishes. Despite the fact that it is far from the east, local sellers are not averse to bargaining.
Museums of the capital Tenerife
If you have a free minute, be sure to stop by the Museum of Archeology and Anthropology. Here is a unique collection of household items from the Guanches, the indigenous population of the Canary Islands. These include mummies found in the caves of the island, farming tools, weapons, household items, household utensils, jewelry and much more. From Guanche weapons, let's move on to more recent times and look at the collection presented at the Military Museum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Armor, weapons from the times of the conquistadors and more modern types of weapons. The museum’s exposition also houses a truly unique specimen: according to legend, this is where the cannon is located, the shot from which tore off the hand of the famous Admiral Nelson. Whoever comes to the Canary Islands with a sword will be left without an arm. Let's move from weapons to the world of art and go to the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Nature. Each of them has something to see and give an impression of the cultural life of the island, as well as flora and fauna.
Modern symbols of the city
Of course, this is a little strange, but this makes the building of the Auditorio Tenerife opera house, built in 2003, even more mysterious and attractive. The Canary Twin Towers look interesting, rising to a height of more than 100 meters. Timeless in Santa Cruz de Tenerife there is another symbol - the largest park in the entire archipelago - García Sanabria. Its area is more than 67 thousand square meters. m. True, it must be said that the capital of Tenerife is itself a very green city. Trees grow on every street in the city.
Carnaval de Tenerife
Once a year, in February or March, the capital Tenerife hosts a carnival, which is considered one of the largest and most colorful in Europe. Residents of all islands and Europeans come to Santa Cruz especially for the holiday, not just to witness the action, but also to take an active part in it. At first glance, it seems that the carnival is a fun and simple pastime, but in fact, preparation for it takes many months. The holiday begins with the selection of the carnival queen, followed by a traditional horse parade, and therefore the wildest fun begins. The Tenerife Carnival is even called little Rio for the similarity of colors and atmosphere. But it is worth saying that the Brazilian carnival, the Canary Carnival, is still inferior in scale.
Beach capital
To the east of the capital is located where the most popular and largest beach in this area of the island is located. Tourists from Europe and islanders come here to bask in the sun and laze on the white sand. By the way, the sand here is real - from the Sahara Desert. In 1973, it was brought here in incredible quantities.
In the capital's suburbs there are several diving clubs, and the dives are intended for both beginners and seasoned divers. The underwater landscape is very beautiful and rich: coral reefs, underwater caves and even a real sunken ship. But it’s better not to go there; local underwater inhabitants have been living there for a long time: sharks, stingrays and barracudas.
In the vicinity of the capital
The capital of the Canary Islands is also the starting point for a variety of tourist routes. From here the journey starts for everyone who wants to conquer the highest point of Anagi - a mountain range at the foot of which is the village of San Andres. North of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the first capital of the island - the town of La Laguna, which, although it has lost the official status of the capital, is secretly the cultural capital. If you drive a decent distance from the capital, you should pay attention to
is the modern capital of the Canary Islands. We went here straight from.
The coat of arms of Santa Cruz is interesting - 3 black leopards under a crown, which symbolize 3 repulsed attempts to capture the city by the British under the leadership of admirals: Robert Blake (1657), Jennings (1706) and Admiral Nelson himself (1797).
It's funny how all the lions have their tongues hanging out. The following associations come to mind: either the Spaniards “stick out their tongues” at the enemy invaders in this way, sort of like “here, take a bite,” or the attackers themselves are depicted, mortally tired of unsuccessful attempts at capture - so that they stick out their tongues.
Get to the capital of the Canaries and explore attractions You can take a beautiful modern tram, which has been running between Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz since 2007. They say that similar Spanish trams will soon appear in Moscow. Well, let us exclaim “Hallelujah” when this happens, since the tram is very comfortable, bright and modern. The tram stops also look very urban.
A big plus is that the tram driver does not have the opportunity to chat with passengers, as can often be seen on Canarian buses, where the loud “blah blah” between the driver and the passenger sitting nearby will be heard throughout the trip, which, however, does not interfere with good driving bus, but sometimes annoying.
Driving through Santa Cruz on the tram, you can see that this is a modern city. There are high-rise buildings, a lot of transport, something clearly similar to a university and student town.
We wanted to see a unique market Mercado Nuestra Senora de Africa, built in African style in 1943, but it is only open until lunchtime. So we got to the Plaza Weyler stop with the square of the same name nearby and went looking for "Fountain of Love". This is a marble fountain created in Genoa. On Plaza Weyler There is also the building of the military commandant's office, where General Franco visited.
Continuing our walk around Santa Cruz, on one of the streets we saw local police officers. These were already mature men, but how strikingly different they were from our law enforcement officers - fit, serious. I can’t say that I’m crazy about people in uniform, but this sight of real men in tight boots would hardly leave any woman indifferent... Their prickly gaze, clearly not approving of being photographed, helped me come to my senses. From here - photos are only from the back.
Then, I don’t remember how, on foot or by tram, we got to the main square of Santa Cruz Plaza de Espana – Plaza of Spain. In the center of the square, surrounded by a fountain, is monument to the victims of the civil war, people who died during the Franco dictatorship - Monumento de los Caidos.
Despite the sad history symbolized by the monument, Plaza de España is mostly used by teenagers for riding bikes and boarding around the fountain. Who else will walk and drive there, given the heat in the open space. Only the funny round cacti feel at ease.
After visiting Plaza de España we went to the main department store in Tenerife – El Corte Inglés. Here you can buy good branded items at lower prices than in Russia.
Don’t even try to get a tax-free check at this department store - it will cost you 4-6 euros, especially since a significant discount is already included in the price of the goods. The manager, who speaks Russian very well (she was glad to receive such a compliment), will tell you about this, since many of our compatriots visit this store.
Having bought a few new things, satisfied with seeing the sights of La Laguna and Santa Cruz, we drove back north to.