El Sauzal

Municipality: El Sauzal

History

During Los Guanches epoch, the population centered was established in the zone of the coast, since it was a rich place in spring. In this zone it was found  numerous caves of room, where there were ceramics; and sepulchral, with mummies and funeral apparel.

Having finished the conquest, the zone was one of the priority villages in being colonized. Alonso Fernandez of Lugo had some of the zone. Between the inhabitants there were Portuguese, Catalans, Andalusians, Italians, Flemings and slaves and they were concentrating the area in absentees (this land had the highest taxes on the island).

A viewpoint

The first population nucleus tried to be raised in the environment of the hermitage of  Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles (Our lady of the Angels) in 1505, but due to the rough topography of the municipality, being constructed in the promontory (considerable Height of land. The considerable height of land that advances in the sea.). So in this place it was constructed San's Pedro Church in 1515, and the principal one of the Angels stayed as a hermitage, though it was the image of dedication and protector of the village.

This municipality suffered a growth, so in the XVI century it turned into the governing center of Acentejo's region.

In El Sauzal

This municipality did not have sugar ingenuity, but the first cultures where the cereal and the vineyard (malvasía wine and vidueño white, the red wine got in the 18th century). The kindness of the temperature and a pleasant climate where the definition of the zone. In 1572 El Cabildo (Administrative exclusive entity of the Canary Isles) of La Laguna was moved to El Sauzal, due to the pest of tumors or bubonic that existed in La Laguna.

The export of different variety of grapevine (sweet, white, dry and vidueño) does that the zone suffers an economic growth. Also the municipality  was benefited from being a step obliged to the real way of La Orotava, and the pier served for communications with the island of La Palma.

View

But after years of growth the crises appears, where the humblest population sees as only  bulging the migration. This wine crisis extinguished the culture of the malvasía, taking as a solution the vidueño. Emigration that unlike other municipalities did not have the return of Indian is enriching to the municipality, for what it entered into "battle" with Tacoronte in the beneficiary of the region.

In 1812, the Sauzal turns into municipal corporation.

In Las Rojas

The vineyard of the zone enters in decadence owed partly to a plague. With the introduction of the wood-louse the crisis manages to be paralyzed during some time. The culture  of the banana in the 20th century seems to relieve a little the emigration, but that will continue to exist until the middle of the 60. In this epoch the population uses towards Santa Cruz and La Laguna (in previous epochs also the population was used in this municipality, especially women who were employed as laundresses at the well-off houses).

The zone of culture was reduced during the centuries, the soil has suffered speculation, and possesses big urbanizations on having turned into the priority zone as the second residence for foreigners and people accommodate of Santa Cruz and La Laguna, due to the kindness before spoken (climate and coast).

Square

The population are working in the services sector and construction. The zone of culture that has been occupied by construction, and the one that stays is divided between plots for the vineyard (the zone is famous for the broths); followed by potatoes; and the banana plantation is scarcely non-existent.

Reprensentative Buildings

Parroquia de San Pedro (San's Pedro parish): it was declared BIC. The church possesses a Latin cross floor plant  with the major chapel of domed cover. The tower of the 18th century offers quadrangular plant. 

From the content of the church it is necessary to distinguish the  picture of Ánimas (Souls), anonymous of the 18th century of classic structure in three planes, with good color and in very acceptable condition of conservation

San Pedro Church

San Nicólas Hermitage: principle of the 17th century, emphasizing the altarpiece of popular school.

San Nicola Church

Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles: from1505. The votive offerings were abundant, since the population was entrusting themself to the image in epochs of misfortune. Stands out the baroque altarpiece and the sculpture of bundle

Los Angele Hermitage

Also there can be mentioned the hermitages Cruz de Lucio and El Calvario.

Museum of the Wine: former estate, of half of the XVIIth. It was composed by two bushels of malmsey wine, two hermitages and two lagares (where the grape is trodden or presses to obtain the mosto( wine juice)). It has a notable artesonado (that is decorated with carved ceiling panels, especially the ceilings)

Wine Museum

Los Lavaderos: current municipal park, place of relaxation for villagers and visitors. Still the water of the springs flows. They can be seen several plant species. Some years ago it was a place to wash the clothes.

Los Lavaderos

Museum of La Siervita: Maria de Jesus was born in 1643 in this municipality, exposes her incorrupt corpse on February 15 in La Laguna, in commemoration of her death in 1731. The house possesses a schedule, being on Mondays and closed Tuesday.

La Siervita Museum

Museum of the Canary fight: it was inaugurated in 2010. This one is located in the House of Los Callejones it is a building of municipal ownership with two floors. It is a question of a house rehabilitated in 2005. Rectangular floor and covered to four waters, extending the back skirt up to the level of ground floor, prototype of the traditional architecture of the zone. To be visited it is necessary to bear the schedule of opening in mind.

Canary fight Museum

La Casa Roja: the front gives the General Road of the North. It is a question of an ancient and historical building. The restoration was carried out between November, 2008 and November, 2010 and it was rehabilitated  in almost ruinous condition, realizing different works , masonry, plumbing and carpentry

Red House

La Casa de la Palmera: it is a question of a traditional Canary housing, renewed in November, 2006. The north front is of a floor of height, whereas the south front, it possesses  two floors, being an element to emphasizing that the division between  both plants  is done by means of a structure of wood. The work contemplated the rehabilitation of the pavements, the covers and the coatings as well as works of carpentry, painting and new electrical facilities.

La Palmera House