Page 538 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

536  SP AIN ’ S ISLANDS

1 La Palma
Santa Cruz de Tenerife. * 80,000.
~ g Santa Cruz de la Palma.
n Plaza de la Constitución s/n, Santa
Cruz de la Palma, 922 41 21 06.
∑ visitlapalma.es
Reaching an altitude of 2,426 m
(7,959 ft) on a land base of less
than 706 sq km (280 sq miles),
La Palma is the world’s steepest
island. It lies on the northwestern
tip of the archipelago and has
a cool, moist climate and lush
vegetation. The mountainous
interior is covered with forests
of pine, laurel and giant fern. The Parque Nacional de la Caldera de Taburiente, La Palma
The centre of the island is
dominated by the Caldera de offering spectacular views of Among the almond terraces
Taburiente, a volcano’s mas sive the craters of La Cumbrecita and vineyards of southern La
crater, more than 8 km (5 miles) and Roque de los Muchachos. Palma, solidified lava from the
wide. National park status Santa Cruz de la Palma, the Teneguia volcano is a reminder
(see pp34–5) is an indication island’s main town and port, of its recent activity (see p555).
of its botanical and geological is an elegant place of old
importance. The International houses with balconies, some
Astrophysics Observatory crowns fine churches and several 16th­
the sum mit. A couple of roads century buildings. In the
traverse La Palma’s dizzy heights, cobbled street behind the sea­
front, Calle O’Daly (named after
an Irish banana trader), are the
Iglesia El Salvador, boasting a
Mudéjar coffered ceiling, and
the town hall (ayuntamiento),
which is housed in a cardinal’s
palace. A full­sized cement
replica of the Santa María,
Columbus’s flagship, stands at
the end of the Plaza Alameda.
The tortuous mountain road
southwest of Santa Cruz winds Craters on El Hierro, Spain’s most
over Las Cumbres mountains western territory
via Breña Alta to El Paso in the
centre of the island. A relatively 2 El Hierro
sizable community, the village Santa Cruz de Tenerife. * 10,500.
Pastel façades and delicate wooden is known for its silk production ~ g Puerto de la Estaca. n Calle
balconies in Santa Cruz, La Palma and hand­rolled cigars. Doctor Quintero 4, Valverde, 922 55
03 02. ∑ elhierro.travel
La Gomera’s Whistle Language
Due to a dearth of sandy
The problems of communication posed beaches, El Hierro has escaped
by La Gomera’s rugged terrain produced tourist invasions. Instead it has
an unusual language, known as El Silbo. caught the atten tion of
This system of piercing whistles probably naturalists, with its hilly land­
developed because its sounds carry across scape and unusual fauna and
the great distances from one valley to flora. El Hierro is the smallest of
the next. Its origins are mysterious, the Canaries, and the furthest
but it was allegedly invented by the west; it is the last place in Spain
Guanches (see p551). Few young
Gomerans have any use for El Silbo where the sun sets.
today, and the language would probably Valverde, the island’s capital;
be dead if it were not for the demon­ stands inland at 600 m (2,000 ft)
strations of it still held for interested visitors above sea level. Canary pines
at the parador, and in the restaurant at El Silbo practised on and peculiarly twisted juniper
Las Rosas. La Gomera trees cover El Hierro’s mount­
ainous interior, best seen from
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p575 and pp604–5

536-537_EW_Spain.indd 536 26/09/17 11:18 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
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Date 5th December 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm