Page 541 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

THE C ANAR Y ISLANDS  539

7 La Orotava
Santa Cruz de Tenerife. * 40,000.
@ n Calle Calvario 4, 922 32 30 41.
_ Carnival (Feb/Mar), Corpus Christi
(May/Jun), Romeria San Isidoro
Labrador (Jun). ∑ webtenerife.com
A short distance from Puerto
de la Cruz, in the fertile hills
above the Orotava Valley, La
Orotava makes a popular
excursion. The old part of this
historic town clusters around
the large Iglesia de Nuestra
Señora de la Concepción. This
domed Baroque building with
twin towers was built in the late
18th century to replace an
earlier church that was des­
troyed in earthquakes at the
beginning of that century.
In the surrounding streets
and squares are many old
churches, convents and grand
houses with elaborate wooden
balconies. Casa de los Balcones
and Casa del Turista, on Calle San
Francisco, sell handicrafts and
regional food products.

Statue of a Guanche chief on the seafront of Candelaria
this gaudy Virgin was venerated 0 Montes de Anaga
before Christianity reached Santa Cruz de Tenerife. @ Santa Cruz
the island. In 1826 a tidal wave de Tenerife, La Laguna.
returned her to the sea, but a
replica draws pilgrims to wor ship The rugged mountains north of
here every August. Out side, Santa Cruz are kept lush by a
stone effigies of Guanche chiefs cool, wet climate. They abound
line the sea wall. with a range of birds and plants,
including cacti, laurels and tree
heathers. Walking the trails is
9 La Laguna very popular, and maps show­
Santa Cruz de Tenerife. * 141,000. ing many of the best paths are
@ n Calle de la Carrera 7, 922 63 available from the tourist office.
Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, patron 11 94. ( daily. _ San Benito (15 Jul), A steep road with marker posts
saint of the Canary Islands Santísimo Cristo de la Laguna (14 Sep). climbs up from the village of
∑ webtenerife.com San Andrés by the beautiful but
8 Candelaria artificial beach of Las Teresitas.
A bustling university town, On clear days there are splendid
Santa Cruz de Tenerife. * 17,000. g
n Avenida de la Constitución 7, 922 La Laguna is the second­largest vistas along the paths, especi ally
03 22 30. ( Sat, Sun. _ Nuestra settlement on Tenerife and a from the viewpoints of Pico del
Señora de la Candelaria (14–15 Aug). UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inglés and Bailadero.
∑ webtenerife.com Its old quarter, best ex plored Winding down through the
on foot, has many historic laurel forests of Monte de las
This coastal town is famous for build ings and good museums. Mercedes and the valley of
its shrine to Nuestra Señora de la Most of the sights lie between Tejina, you will first come to
Candelaria, the Canary Islands’ the bell­towered Iglesia de the town of Valle de Guerra,
patron saint, whose image is Nuestra Señora de la Concepción where there is an ethnographic
surrounded by flowers and (1502), and the Plaza del museum. Next, you will reach
candles in a modern church in Adelantado, on which stand the Tacoronte, with its interesting
the main square. Supposedly town hall, a convent and the churches and a bodega, where
washed ashore in pagan times, Palacio de Nava. you can sample local wines.

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