Municipality: Puerto de la Cruz
History
We cannot
speak about the history of El Puerto de la Cruz, without speaking about the
tourism, since these two words are related , and this municipality is the symbol of the tourism in
Tenerife . Though more destinations exist on the island, which to see and to enjoy, the tourist was originated in this municipality,
and on the Canary Islands. But it is necessary to see the history of that place before, until the tourism arrived.
The Conquest of the Island finished in 1496, being established La Laguna as the capital of the island. The rest of the island was divided into several Comarcas (areas). These areas were divided as The Menceyatos were. So, the actual municipalities of La Orotava, Puerto de la Cruz and Los Realejos were named Comarca de Taoro (Taoro´s area). This area accounted jurisdiction of La Orotava, in
whose littoral was ordained to construct a wharf. It was the year 1506 when it started to establish a poor village known as Puerto de la Orotava.
In the 17th
century it was established the first hearth of the zone, which was running from Castillo San Felipe (San Felipe´z castle) to Santa Barbara, extended towards Martiánez. Since that was started putting up signs on the sites, making a Church with its square and it was started to fortify the area due to the fact pirates and corsair attacks were frequent.
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| El Peñón |
Due to the
increase of the population in the zone, in 1648 the King Philip IV dictated a
Royal Bond in the one that was giving herself the emancipation to the Port of
the Orotava, but I do not come into force until 1651, and it was finally in
1172 when the zone I achieve the independence.
The
destruction of Garachico's port in 1706 turned to Puerto de la Cruz in the
principal port of the Island this moment was the most important
epoch of the history of the City, from the points of view economically,
socially and culturally. The zone that first was dedicated to the sugar cane, then it was developed the cultivation of the wine.
It was at
the end of the 19th century when the first "tippers" visited the City. They were from Great Britain and were coming to the Island on board of the
steams of the fruit companies. It was at the time when " there was
discovered " the kindness of the spring climate and the beauty of the
landscape, which were the principal reasons that were rewarding the long
Atlantic voyage. Scientific (those who were studying the geography of the island) and doctor ( they were studying the kindness of the time, for possible priests as the tuberculosis) and affluent people arrived to the island. Many luxury cruises which went to other places stopped on the island and it was possible to do excursions, for what the City was laying the foundations of what at least would turn into its economic engine.
The strategic
situation and agreeable climate, attracted merchants of several
nationalities who were turned into the bourgeois dominant
class.
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| Marqueza Hotel |
In the
whole Europe there was spread a sanitary publicity, across a multitude of articles in press, guides and leaflets. The important fruit companies that were operating in
Canaries were used as tourist lines. The shipping ones started taking part in the
tourist business. They were called tourist - fruit cruises. The agencies conscious of the importance of the incipient tourist movement,
strained also in promoting Tenerife . At this
moment, Puerto de la Cruz began the decadence as a commercial center, it was due to the crises of the export of the wine, later, of the cochineal (a small animal who grow up in tunera (a species of cactus)) and for the development of the port
of Santa Cruz
On the
island , it was warned also the periodic visits of foreing people whose visits could be an important source of income. The privileged climate and
the landscape where a strong claim. The British presence, especially, was decisive for the beginning of the tourist industry in Puerto de la Cruz and El Valle de la Orotava.
Representative Buildings
Though Puerto de la Cruz is not the same place as years ago, just as the first period of the tourism, still it is and
must be an obligatory step to understand the evolution of the population, who form being farmers to being employed in the tourist sector.
For it we are going to name some of the nicest real estate of this zone.
Muelle Pesquero: (fishing quay) the current fishing quay does not suggest the dynamism and the importance it had in the past, not only for the city but also for the economic life of the island. The origin and development of Puerto de la Cruz has been linked almost exclusively to the port activities until the 19th century. it has been a traditional territory for
the lovers of the cane of going fishing or simply the best place for the dives
of the youngest.
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| Muelle Pesquero |
Museo Arqueológico: (archeological museum) it dates back about1953. It is possible to see the collection of aboriginal ceramics, mummified remains original
inhabitants of the Island, cartography of the 17th century, etc. It also has a permanent exhibition, " The Ceramic Original inhabitant of the Canary
Isles ", a fascinating tour across which there enjoy aspects of the daily life, of the magic and of the death of the ancient inhabitants.
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| Museum |
Castillo San Felipe: (San Felipe´s Castle) it was declared as a monument on April 22, 1949. It is located in the mouth of the ravine of the same name. Its construction dates back to the
17th century. The structure has polygonal form, to which one was acceding for a
bridge of wood and that can be raised another one located in a pit. The second plant was in use as housing for the garrison.
Nowadays it is conceived as cultural enclosure.
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| Castle |
Plaza del Charco: (pool square) it is the central point of the city, an open space, where the vegetation is formed by umbrella Indian laurels which were brought in 1852 from Cuba. The name of the square is due to the fact that it is easily flooded when it rains.
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| Plaza del Charco |
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| The bell tower of the church |
Ladera de Martianez: (Matianez´s hillside). it was declared as an archaeological zone in 2007. It is a hillside formed for successive basaltic washes, whereas the base was undermined by the ocean. This place possesses a vegetation termófila (it is vegetation typical of the islands, very close to Mediterranean vegetation). The protection is due to the fact that is was found some archeological remains like punches, cranium, etc, in the natural caves. Nowadays it is difficult to glimpse the complete from the hillside, due to all the constructions that they find opposite it, but nonetheless, is a hillside with a great natural beauty, only it is necessary to fix on it.
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| Hillside |
Ermita San Telmo: (San Telmo hermitage) it was declared monument in 2000. It was founded in 1780, for the men of the sea. The building is of rectangular plant to cover of Arabic tile to two waters, and walls of rubble and mud. The doors are of basaltic hewn stone, of round arches point supported by simple pilasters. The altar dates from the 18th century and it was made with polychrome wood. Related to the San Telmo's Imagen it belongs to 1783 and it made of wood. It was restored in the second half of the 20th century.
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| San Telmo Church |
Lago Martianez: it was declared as an historical garden in 2005. It is an artificial lake that one finds on Martiánez's coast, realized by the sculptor lanzaroteño Cesár Manrique. It possesses several swimming pools, so much adult as for children, and vegetation about the whole complex. There was realized so it was constituted to the nature, that is to say, complex nestled in nature and seem natural
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| Lago Martianez |
Other places to visit are The Yellow House, The Garden
of Acclimatization ,etc.
It is one of the flattest areas in the island, and can be cross it entirely on foot. Throughout these properties see buildings from the 60s forward, but still has some cobbled streets and buildings of Canary typology. The area also has a wide variety of amenities, such as restaurants, clubs, beaches, activities, etc.
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| Taoro |
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