towns in tenerife

Many of the annual events taking place in Tenerife resorts and town are truly extraordinary, e.g., the Flower Carpet festivals, entire streets laid with amazing pictures, painstakingly constructed entirely of flowers and flower petals. The Mardi Gras carnivals at Tenerife's capital town, Santa Cruz and the tourist resort of Los Cristianos are simply amazing - check your dates before reserving holidays if you want to experience these events.

TOWNS of NORTH TENERIFE

Santa Cruz
The capital, is a typical busy, traffic laden capital port town with a population of over 200,000. The Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife comprises of Tenerife and some of the other islands in the archipelago, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro. Santa Cruz is an important harbour, connecting trading routes between Europe, Africa and America. It has many valuable architectural monuments such as the Concepción and San Francisco Churches. Interesting historical artefacts from conquering times exist, including the many flags taken from Nelson during his frustrated assault on the city. The golden-sand beach of Las Terrasitas is just outside Santa Cruz Santa Cruz offers historical, scientific and anthropological museums, as well as art galleries, cinemas and multi-cinema complexes, cultural centres and theatres. Anaga Natural Park, with its uniqueness and beauty deserve to be visited.
Puerto de la Cruz
Puerto de la Cruz - population of more than 27,000 is the main tourist resort of the north of the island. The Taoro Park, where the Casino is situated, is a great vegetable area where one can also find the Botanical Garden (which dates from 1788) featuring trees and other vegetable species from every continent. Features one of the islands internationally famous attractions, Loro Parque, which no one should miss.
La Laguna
4 km west of Santa Cruz and with a population of well over 125,000, La Laguna is Tenerife's Province second most important city. It is the old Capital of the Island and still the cultural and religious capital - due to the fact that it lodges the San Fernando University and the province's Bishopric. The whole city is full of outstanding architectural monuments, palaces and traditional houses of earlier centuries. Among its religious buildings the most outstanding are the Cathedral, the Santo Domingo and the Concepción Churches - this latter one a historical and artistic monument. One can also find the Church of the Holy Cgrist and the San Miguel Chapel. History and art in La Laguna are to be found in the Casa Ossuna Museum, the Friends of the Country Economic Society Museum, the Concepción Church's Museum and the Cathedral's Museum. La Laguna's Municipal boundaries extend to the towns of Tejina and Valle Guerra - very rich agricultural areas - as well as Bajamar and Punta del Hidalgo, which have become tourist resorts with first class hotels, natural swimming pools and extraordinary landscapes.
Garachico
Garachico has around 6,000 inhabitants - along with Buenavista and Los Silos forms the 'Low Island'. It is a quiet historical.town which was in fact the islands principal port until it was destroyed in 1706 by a volcanic eruption. There are several historical monuments - the Saint Michael Castle, the Churches of Santa Ana, Santo Domingo and Our Lady of the Angels. The whole village is practically a living museum. The popular 'romeria' (country feast) of San Roque has been declared of national tourist interest. Garachico is also well know as a 'craft' centre and Craft Fairs are always around.
Los Realejos
Los Realejos, population of around 33,000, lies on the lower slopes of the Las Cañadas del Teide mountain range. Mainly agricultural, it is surrounded by banana plantations - although it is now a tourist extension of Puerto de la Cruz. Garachico is also home to the oldest Island's Church - the Santiago Parish - constructed in 1498. There is a beautiful black-sand beach at El Socorro.
La Oratava
The Villa de la Orotava has in excess of 36,000 inhabitants and lies on the banana plantations of the Valley which bears its same name. This old town has magnificent and monumental architectonic structures, characterised by well shaded Canarian patios, squares and ancestral houses. The Concepción Parish Church is a national monument. The Casa de los Balcones (house of balconies) is a wonderful example of the Island's traditional architecture. La Orotava also houses the Documentation Research Centre of Spanish and American crafts. On the Orotava mountains there are many tourist paths where one can enjoy tracking excursions - some of which reach the great Cañadas del Teide, a protected National Park area. The town has a botanical garden - 'La Hijuela del Botánico' - with over 3,000 different vegetable species mainly of South and Central American, African and Australian origin. It has three beautiful dark-sand beaches - El Bollullo, Martín Alonso and El Rincón.
Icod de los Viños
Home of the reputedly 3000 year old 'Dragon Tree'. The tree is now protected from the tourist damage that was unfortunately being caused by people 'wanting a piece' of the tree. Several major alterations and roadwork's have been implemented to improve the flow of traffic through this busy and interesting town.

EAST TENERIFE

Candelaria
Candelaria is a tourist municipality with around 13,000 inhabitants. Candelaria one finds the Basilica where the Islands' Virgin Patron is worshipped. The church of the 'Black Madonna' is situated on a beautiful square on the beach front, which is also the home of statues of the islands previous 'Guanche Kings'.

Güimar
Güimar has 16,000 inhabitants and like La Oratava, bears the name of its beautiful valley. Although basically arid valley, it has been transformed by local inhabitants into a rich green area producing bananas, potatoes, vegetables and fruits.

SOUTH TENERIFE

Granadilla
Granadilla (19,000 inhabitants) is a picturesque town, of winding roads. The agricultural richness of Granadilla produces all types of vegetables, potatoes, legumes, cereals and grapes - and produces wine of excellent quality. One should visit the Monte del Agua (Water Height) which has amazing, lunar-like landscape.
San Isidro Situated about 7 km north of airport, San Isidro is a Spanish residents working town. There are many Car showrooms and repair shops here along with normal shops geared to the local residents.
Arona
Arona (population 28,000) is essentially tourist oriented. Arona town itself is situated about 10 km about Los Cristianos. Arona is one of the municipalities in charge of Playa Las Americas and Los Cristianos. These towns count high quantity tourist resorts.
Vilaflor
Vilaflor (pop. 1,599) is the highest point in Spain, situated at 1,400 metres from sea-level. It is a quiet town set amid pine, almond trees and unique traditional architecture. An outstanding example is the Parish Church and the old Palace of the Lords, in the Abona region. The ruins of the convent were built in honour of Brother Pedro, founding-father of the Bethlemite Order and beatified by the Vatican. Other places to visit are - Madre del Agua, El Sombrero, Lomo Gordo, Las Lajas recreational area, the San Roque mountain and Agua Agria. The cheeses and wines f the area are also famous. Hunting is very popular, and besides rabbits, close to Las Cañadas, one may see the shy and elusive Iberian goats.

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