The best to see in La Laguna, a World Heritage Site in Tenerife

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Corner of the historic center of La Laguna in Tenerife

My lasttrip to Tenerife, in the Canary Islandshas allowed me tovisit La Laguna with the eyes of a tourist, and it seemed like a lovely place.

A long time ago I lived in The lagoon for a year, but between that it was a stay mandatory (the mili), and that the city at that time was very poorly maintained, at that time I could not appreciate its artistic and cultural wealth.

Only the great university environment made it an interesting place to live.

Santa Catalina Monastery in the Plaza del Adelantado de La Laguna

For The lagoon It has been a before and after statement in 1999 by the Unesco town World Heritage.

This designation led to a complete rehabilitation of the city, with the removal of its buildings and pedestrianization of its main streets.

The result is that The lagoon At present it has become a place with great charm, a reference of cultural life and leisure on the island, surpassing the decayed city ofSanta Cruz, current capital of the Tenerife Island.

History of La Laguna

In a way it has been a return to the origins, when it was The lagoon the capital of said island of the Canary Islands.

Corner of the historic center of La Laguna in Tenerife

San Cristobal de La Laguna, which is his full name, was founded in 1497 by theAdvanced Alonso Fernández de Lugo, and was designatedcapital of the island of Tenerife for being located inside, and thus avoid pirate attacks.

The city began to develop from the space that now occupies the Adelantado Square, and from the beginning concentrated political and ecclesiastical powers, with the headquarters of theIsland Council and the Bishopric.

In addition he also had the military power to house the camp with the headquarters of theCaptaincy General of the Canary Islands.

During the 16th century they were builtpalatial buildings, at the same time that a perpendicular street urban configuration was developed, typical of what modern cities are now, in front of the motley configuration with narrow streets, characteristic of medieval walled cities.

La Laguna, World Heritage

This configuration of modern city that it already had at the end of the 16th century, and that was taken as an example for the development of new cities in the American continent, is the reason why theUnesco decided to declare itWorld Heritage.

Adelantado Square in the historic center of La Laguna in Tenerife

In later centuries, the lagoon that was next to the city (which gave the name to it) was drying up, which led to its extension by the so-calledVega Lagunera, although little by littleThe lagoon was losing weight in front of the most prosperous neighboring city ofSanta Cruz.

It was at the time of Fernando VII whenThe lagoon lost the capital of the island, although in 1927 in the city thefirst university of the Canary Islands.

As I could see on my last trip to the island of Tenerife, todayLagunhe has had a great recovery of his strength againstSanta Cruz, city that instead is suffering the loss of the advantages that it had asfree port.

La Laguna and Santa Cruz They are now urbanistically linked, and the new tram that facilitates communication between the two has made the former a priority place of leisure for the residents of the current capital.

Drago in the historic center of La Laguna in Tenerife

What to see in the visit of La Laguna

The visit of the historic center of La Laguna well you can start in the Adelantado Square.

Plaza del Adelantado in La Laguna

This is the geographical center of the city of the fifteenth century, when in its churches and palaces the political and ecclesiastical power were concentrated together with the military, because there was a camp nearby.

In that square you can now see the Hermitage of San Miguel, of 1506, where the first meetings of the Cabildo of Tenerife.

Palatial houses on Obispo Rey Redondo street in La Laguna

Santa Catalina Monastery of Siena

But above all, the monastery of St. Catherine of Sienawith his two ajimeces exteriors that will get your attention, and the Nava Palace, which combines Mannerist, Baroque and Neoclassical styles.

If from there you take the Bishop King Redondo Street to the Conception Square, on the left side you will have a succession of historic buildings.

House of the General Captains in La Laguna in Tenerife

Corregidor House in La Laguna

Among them, the Corregidor House, one of the oldest buildings in La Laguna, which was the seat of the former Town hall of the island, or the Alhóndiga House, built in 1705.

Other palaces that you will see with its colorful and very careful facades are the House of the General Captains, named for residing in it during the 18th century, or the House table, whose façade highlights the family coat of arms.

On this route you will pass by the Church of Our Lady of Remedies, from the 16th century, which was laguna cathedral in 1819.

TOURS and EXCURSIONS in TENERIFE

- Teide Cable Car Tickets
- Excursion to Teide from the south of Tenerife
- Excursion to Teide from the north of Tenerife
- Teide Observatory, La Orotava and La Laguna
- Complete tour of the island of Tenerife
- Private tour of Tenerife

In parallel St. Augustine Street highlights the Lercaro Palace, from the end of the 16th century, which now houses the Tenerife History Museum.

Next to it, you have the Salazar House, from the 16th century, headquarters of Bishopric until in 2006 he suffered a fire.

And nearby you will find the building of the Church and former Hospital of Our Lady of Sorrows, that was the first charitable center of the city in 1515.

Tower of the church of the Conception in La Laguna

Next to this building you have the church and ex-convent of San Agustín, founded in 1506 by the Augustinians.

Located next to a beautiful landscaped enclosure, the church suffered a fire in 1964, and is still pending restoration.

Ntra Lady Concepción Church in La Laguna

You will finally reach the Doctor Olivera Squarewhere do you find the Church of Our Lady of Conception.

Corner of the historic center of La Laguna in Tenerife

The original parish dates back to 1511, although at the end of the last century, due to its great deterioration, a rebuilding was carried out.

The most prominent element of this church, one of the iconic monuments of La Laguna, is its tower from the end of the 17th century.

This is nothing more than a sample of the many monuments and mansions that you can see during a walk through La Laguna, visit of which I will be delighted.

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Video: La Laguna Tenerife Vacation Travel Video Guide (March 2024).