Santa Cruz de Tenerife, with about 210,000 inhabitants, is Tenerife's capital and, with Las Palmas, joint capital of the Canary Islands. It stands on the island's north-east coast, between the port and the Anaga mountains, with a mild climate all year.
History
Born as a landing place in 1494, when the conqueror Alonso Fernández de Lugo came ashore and planted a cross, Santa Cruz grew around its port and in 1833 became capital of the whole archipelago, until its division into two provinces in 1927. In 1797 it repelled the British fleet led by Horatio Nelson, who lost his right arm in the battle: the cannons of that day are still a source of pride.
What to see
- The Auditorio de Tenerife, designed by Santiago Calatrava and opened in 2003, with its great white sail over the sea.
- Plaza de España, with its artificial lake, and nearby Plaza de la Candelaria.
- The church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, the city's oldest.
- MUNA, the Museum of Nature and Archaeology, with Guanche mummies and the islands' natural history.
- TEA, Tenerife Espacio de las Artes, a contemporary art centre by Herzog & de Meuron.
- García Sanabria park, the large tropical garden in the centre.
- The Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África, the covered market.
- The Castillo de San Juan Bautista, the "Black Castle", next to the Auditorio.
Carnival
The Santa Cruz carnival, between February and March, is considered one of the world's biggest, with the queen's election, satirical murgas, comparsas and street dancing until dawn. In 1987 Celia Cruz's concert drew an immense crowd that entered the Guinness World Records.
Around the city
- Las Teresitas beach, at San Andrés, a long beach of golden sand brought from the Sahara, protected by an artificial breakwater.
- Anaga rural park, a biosphere reserve, with laurel forests, trails and villages perched on cliffs.
- San Cristóbal de La Laguna, a UNESCO site, reached by tram.
- Mount Teide, Spain's highest volcano, about an hour's drive away.
Getting there
Tenerife North airport is about 12 km away, Tenerife South about 60. The city has a tram line and buses to the whole island, and a port with ferries to Gran Canaria and the mainland.