Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital of the island of eternal spring. Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital of Tenerife and sometimes the Canary Islands Santa Cruz de Tenerife Spain

The Canary Islands attract travelers from all over the world. Tenerife, the island of eternal spring, becomes the favorite among many. When relaxing by the sea, you should definitely set aside a day to get acquainted with its capital - the majestic Santa Cruz de Tenerife. At first glance, it may seem that there are few attractions here, but a curious tourist will discover many secrets carefully kept by the Spaniards.

In the north-eastern part of Tenerife there is not a metropolis at all, but Santa Cruz de Tenerife. His story begins a very long time ago. And it is connected with the name of Don Alonso Fernandez de Lugo. He always dreamed of conquering the Canary Islands. He wanted to feel the glory of Columbus, who discovered unknown countries. One day he landed numerous troops on the island where Santa Cruz de Tenerife later arose.

The conquest of the lands was clearly planned. Before the expedition began, Fernandez de Lugo received support from Seville bankers and sold his own sugar plantations. Having reached the island, he landed in the northern part. To prove the capture of the area, he immediately installed the Holy Cross, from which the name of the village of Santa Cruz came. Then the conqueror moved deeper into the island, and we will stop and consider what happened to the settlement next.

The history of the fishing village, which was not yet called Santa Cruz de Tenerife, dates back to 1494. Then the first inhabitants settled here. Gradually the place began to grow and expanded into the city. If not for chance, would it have managed to become the capital. In 1706, a volcano woke up on the island. The enraged Montagna Negra destroyed most of the buildings of the city of Garachico, which was considered the main port in Tenerife. Then Santa Cruz took his place. In 1723, it was decided to move the capital here. It remains so to this day, although it periodically cedes its role to another city - Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Since the birth of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, it has never been surrendered to enemies. The local residents bravely withstood all attacks. The coat of arms tells about victories and the desire for freedom. The three lion heads are symbols of major victories over Roberto Blake, John Jennings and Horatio Nelson. Now Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a quiet, peaceful city with about 250 thousand inhabitants. By the standards of the island it is large.

Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Residents and numerous tourists consider the main attraction of the city to be the carnival, which is held annually in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. They have been waiting for him for a whole year, exactly from the day the previous one ended. You will be able to see the spectacle, which lasts 2 weeks, in February.

For two weeks, the capital attracts guests from all over the world. The spectacle is amazing. In terms of brightness of colors, it is in no way inferior to Brazilian carnivals, except that it is a little more modest in scope. Among the main events are the election of the queen of the island, the horse parade, and the burial of the sardine.

Temples of Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Anyone who visits the capital of the island can see the Holy Cross, which gave its name to Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The shrine is kept in the main city temple - the Church Immaculate Conception Virgin Mary. The city has a special attitude towards her. Locals call it the Cathedral or Mother Church. A small chapel was opened on the site of the founding of the city already at the end of the 15th century. Later it was transformed. A majestic spire appeared, visible from all corners of the city. The ashes of many figures who became famous at different times rest here.

A little later, in the 17th century, construction began on the Church of St. Francis of Assisi. It took almost a century to build in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Nowadays, many valuable icons, paintings, and sculptures are collected here.

The attractions of Santa Cruz de Tenerife include the Masonic Temple. However, it will not be possible to get into it, because it has been under repair for more than two decades. Many tourists approach the building, take pictures, and admire the sphinxes decorating the facade.

City squares and main streets of Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Many tourists begin their walks around the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife with main square- Plaza de España. Previously, there was the fortress of San Cristobal. Now the majestic square, recognized as the largest on the island, is decorated with tall monument in the form of a Cross with a observation deck. Located here beautiful fountain and a monument glorifying the defenders of Spain. The composition includes bas-reliefs and several sculptures. Adjacent to the square is the Avenue of the Duchess of St. Helena, the entrance to which is opened by an arch laid out in 1787.

There are slightly fewer tourists in Candelaria Square, where the monument to the Holy Virgin of Canelaria is erected. Next to her are her faithful Guanche guards. There are four of them. There were the same number of angels, which for some reason were removed after the next restoration.

Rambla de Santa Cruz is the main street of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. In appearance, she doesn't stand out in any way. On both sides there are many cozy restaurants and cafes where you can taste national dishes. It's worth walking to the end to see the monument to Franco, the general who defended Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Modern landmarks

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is growing rapidly. Its newly built buildings are in no way inferior in beauty to those that have stood for centuries. The vanguard has reached the city. This is evidenced by a masterpiece that has no equal in Europe. Acoustico de Tenerife is a modern concert hall built during the period in Santa Cruz de Tenerife from 1997 to 2003. The unusual shape is impressive: it seems that there is a huge sail in front of the viewer. There is an organ installed here, the sound of which is a must-listen. The acoustics of the hall are the best in the world, something its authors are proud of. The Symphony and Chamber halls are open, there is a luxurious terrace and a spacious hall.
There are several museums in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

You are encouraged to visit at least one of them:
archaeological;
military;
fine arts;
contemporary art.

Parks and squares

The capital is surrounded by greenery. When getting to know the city, you need to enjoy the beauty of nature. Admirable local parks:
Palmetum is a botanical park and garden at the same time, where 400 species of various palm trees brought from different countries;
La Granja is a wonderful holiday destination for children in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where there are many attractions;
Garcia-Sanabria – central place in a city where everyone meets at the flower clock or next to the sculptures of Dr. Guigo or Mayor García Sanabria.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is an amazing capital, not designed for tourist flows. It is quiet and cozy here, so in the absence of numerous entertainment venues, you can enjoy the beauty of the island’s capital.

As for the capital status of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Canarians have not been able to resolve this issue for centuries. The dispute is between Gran Canaria and Tenerife - two largest islands archipelago. Santa Cruz de Tenerife was founded in 1494, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria a little earlier, in 1478. As a result of the dispute, two cities are the capitals of their islands, and the capital of the entire archipelago is transferred every two years from one to another, can you imagine? In 2016, Santa Cruz rules the roost, and next year it will be La Palma.

Residents will enjoy living in Santa Cruz de Tenerife big cities, accustomed to comfortable apartments, car noise, boulevards and sidewalks. The population of the city is about 220 thousand people, by Russian standards this is not very Big city, but here he is the largest. In Tenerife, it is easy to get tired of the provincialism of numerous villages, so if you are looking for a holiday in a mild climate, but with a familiar cityscape, the presence of museums and shopping centers, cinemas and a large selection of cafes and restaurants, stay in Santa Cruz. Tenerife is famous for its natural attractions, such as the active volcano Teide, the eerie but beautiful gorges of Masca and Inferno, which are easily accessible from the capital. Today we will tell you in more detail how to fill your vacation without leaving Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

History of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Landing in Tenerife, you find yourself on one of the oldest islands in the world and immediately feel that this place is special. It is believed that the Canary Islands “grew” from the depths of the ocean during the sinking of Atlantis. No one knows for sure when this happened and whether Atlantis actually existed, but it is known for certain that 2000 years ago, the Guanches, the legendary pioneers of these lands, settled on the site of Santa Cruz. The Silver Holy Cross (Santa Cruz) was erected here by the Spanish conquistadors in 1494, which is considered the year the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife was founded. This cross can now be seen in the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción Museum. The capital of the island was originally the port city of Garachico in the northwest, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Teide in 1706. No residents of Garachico were injured, but administrative center had to be moved to Santa Cruz, and this changed the pace of development on the eastern end of the island.

After Spanish colonization, Tenerife was repeatedly attacked by the British, Danes and other Europeans. Many battles took place in Santa Cruz, but the city was never taken by the enemy.

Today's peaceful Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a city of military glory, on whose coat of arms you will see three leopards, representing three victories over British invaders in the local port - in 1657, 1706 and 1797.

- a landmark throughout Spain. It is the second largest in the world after the famous carnival in Rio. This tradition was brought here by the Spaniards from the continent, or rather, from Cadiz. Annual festivities take place throughout the island, but it is in the capital that the costume show is organized at the highest level. All events taking place during the first week of February are completely free. The election of the queen of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife carnival from local beauties, the first procession of the queen, the main procession along the embankment (Gran Coso Apoteosis) and the comic “funeral of the sardine” in the finale are the main themes of the carnival. All residents and tourists, in costumes and without, take to the streets, walk and dance until the morning, watch competitions of street musicians and dancers, orchestra performances, concerts and performances throughout the city.

As part of the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, there is always a children's costume procession, a parade of vintage cars, and a temporary amusement park is installed on the embankment. At this time, cafes and restaurants offer special menus at very attractive prices.

Shops in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

What to do in Santa Cruz for the rest of the year, with the exception of Easter week? There are two more important dates you need to know! Seasonal sales periods, when discounts reach 70% on everything, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife are the same as on the continent: from January 6 to February 30 and from July 1 to August 30, the prices will pleasantly surprise you. Not far from the city center is the large commercial center El Corte Ingles. This Spanish chain of stores is distinguished by its high-quality selection of goods and manufacturers. There is convenient parking, bars and restaurants, a grocery store, souvenirs and 7 floors of clothing and shoe stores, perfumes, sportswear and equipment, in general, shopping for every taste.

When you go shopping in Santa Cruz de Tenerife at Cort Inglés, you will come across Spanish clothing brands of excellent quality, but not too expensive, which are not very popular in Russia: Adolfo Domingues, Carolina Hererra, Roberto Verino, Purficacion Garcia. There is also a huge selection of basic brands Zara, Mango, Desigual, Jack&Jones, Pimkie, Guess, several floors are occupied by luxury items Armani, Dolce&Gabbana, Escada, Gucci, Chanel, Hermes, Fendi and others at prices slightly lower than continental ones.

In addition to the fact that the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has the status of one of the two capitals Canary Islands, it is the capital of everything Tenerife Islands and the Spanish province of the same name. In common parlance the city is simply called Santa Cruz (Holy Cross), and the prefix "de Tenerife" it just distinguishes it from other cities with the same name, of which there are many in the world.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a very modern and cheerful city, which boasts many magnificent squares, cozy parks and beautiful houses. Everyone who comes to this sunny city is literally immediately imbued with the festive atmosphere. The streets of the city are filled with numerous bazaars, shops and hotels, and its inhabitants are smiling and hospitable. However, Santa Cruz truly blooms and comes to life in February, when the famous Tenerife carnivals take place here, and the city itself is filled with flowers, light and music. In addition, near the capital there is the famous Playa de las Teresitas beach with white sands, which attracts tourists here. Surprisingly, but true: the sand was brought here straight from the Sahara!

Climate and weather

Because Tenerife island Located at the same latitude as the Sahara Desert, the weather here is always warm and comfortable. in winter average temperature air is +19...+21 °C, in the summer - +25..+27 °C. There is practically no precipitation on the island. The water temperature remains stable all year round and fluctuates around +21°C.

A trip to Santa Cruz de Tenerife can be planned for literally any month: the tourist and beach season here lasts throughout the year.

Nature

Santa Cruz de Tenerife lies on the northeast coast Tenerife Islands- himself big island Canary archipelago. The city is located on a gentle slope small mountain and is surrounded by steep cliffs mountain range Anaga.

There are two beaches in the immediate vicinity of Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Las Teresitas with light yellow sand and Taganan with black volcanic sand. From the city you can very quickly get to the famous National Park Teide where it rises active volcano(third largest in the world).

Attractions

Despite the venerable age of the city, it cannot be said that there are many buildings of historical interest. The main one is Fort Castillo Negro, which in the past played an important role in the defense of the city. Nowadays, every year a costume performance is held here in honor of the repulsed attack of Admiral Nelson. It is worth noting that the building of the old fort is literally lost in the background concert hallAuditorio de Tenerife, made in modern Spanish style. It was opened not so long ago (2003), but has already become a symbol of the city.

Of particular interest is the magnificent Plaza de España, which is the heart of the capital. In the very center of the square is monument to the fallen V Civil War in Spain. In addition, the government building is located here Tenerife, Museum of Archeology And anthropology And Palace Map(XVII century). Two baroque temples deserve special mention: Church of St. Francis And Church of Iglesia La Conception, within the walls of which is stored Holy Cross conquistadors, who gave the city its name.

If Plaza de Espany I'm considered the heart of the city then Garcia Sanabria Park we can safely call it light. First of all, it is notable for being the largest urban park in the Canary Islands.

There are a lot of museums in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the most famous of which is Museum of Nature and Man and where you can see Guanche mummies. Also worth noting Art gallery,Museum natural history , Museum military history and Municipal Museum of Painting and Sculpture.

The surrounding areas of the city also deserve attention. Be sure to visit the ancient capital of the island - La Laguna city. You can also go to the foothills Anaga or to Mount Teide, which is located in the park of the same name. In addition, near Santa Cruz de Tenerife there are Laura Park parrot park And Botanical Garden Garcia-Sanabri and with an artificial iceberg, penguins and a huge dolphinarium.

Nutrition

The city will appeal to even the most discerning gourmets, as it is simply replete with all kinds of restaurants, cafes, snack bars and bars. Of course, the most common establishments here are those offering local national cuisine. One of its main "highlights" is Papas Arrugadas- high-mountain potatoes, boiled in their jackets. It is usually served as a side dish for meat and fish or as an independent dish with red or green mojo sauce, which is prepared with olive oil.

A variety of seafood dishes (fish, squid, crabs, lobsters, shrimp, etc.) are also very popular here. Moreover, in some establishments in the aquarium you can personally choose your future lunch and watch it being prepared. Meat treats are also common on the islands, for example, puchero canario(beef stew) or Ropa Vieja(a dish of chicken, beef, potatoes and peas). Also worth a try favados(pork and beans) and rabbit stew conejo al salmorejo. As in Spain, it is popular here paella with seafood, chicken or meat. Also, lungs came here from the continent tapas: cheese, jamon, ham, olives, etc.

Selection of desserts in local cuisine just huge. Most common flan(pudding), fried bananas with rum and caramel and bienmesable(sweetness made from grated almonds and honey). Well, all these dishes are washed down with excellent coffee in various variations.

Among alcoholic beverages, strong wine deserves special attention "Malvasia" and local beer, as well as white and dark rum.

Accommodation

Most hotels in Santa Cruz de Tenerife meet all European standards and is located close to popular restaurants, bars and shops. Most of the hotels belong to the 4* category and can boast a high level of comfort, for example, Hotel Escuela Santa Cruz (from $100). However, the city also has many 3* and 5* establishments, as well as apartments.

For thrifty tourists Santa Cruz de Tenerife is ready to offer budget options accommodation: Hotel Plaza (from 46 $), Hotel Pelinor(from 43 $), Hotel Horizonte(from $39), etc. There are also establishments that operate on the principle "all inclusive".

Entertainment and relaxation

First of all, Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital of the famous February carnival, which attracts a huge number of tourists. Moreover, this bright and colorful event is recognized as the second most popular carnival in the world (after the Brazilian one). In addition to the carnival, Santa Cruz de Tenerife hosts a huge number of other interesting holidays and festivals, for example, Baile de magos (Dance of the Magi), Holy Week and Easter, Feast of Our Lady of Candelara and many others.

It is worth saying that Santa Cruz de Tenerife is one of the largest and most popular cities in the Canary archipelago, so there is no shortage of entertainment here. For lovers of a noisy holiday, nightclubs, bars, casinos and all kinds of entertainment venues are open here. Vacationers with the whole family can visit city parks, cinemas and playgrounds. As for sports, all tourists have access to horse riding, tennis, cycling and hiking. tourist routes. The location of Santa Cruz allows easy and quick access to the main natural attractions of the island (Teide volcano, Anaga mountains, etc.).

However, one of the most popular places holidays are Taganan and Las Teresitas beaches, which are located near the city. Tourists go there to sunbathe, go yachting or water skiing, play beach volleyball, surf and others. aquatic species sports Not far from the city there are several diving centers that will be appreciated by both beginners and experienced divers.

Purchases

The Canary Islands are considered one of the best places for shopping, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife has firmly established its status as a shopping paradise. This is explained by the fact that the Canaries are duty free zone, where the cost of all goods is an order of magnitude lower than in the EU countries.

The main shopping places in the city are Plaza La Candelaria and pedestrian street Calle de Castillo. It is there that there are many different shops, fashion boutiques and small shops where you can buy perfumes, cosmetics, clothes, shoes, jewelry and souvenirs at a profit. Also worth a look are the Pargue Bulevar shopping center and Calle de Pilar, which offer luxury items from the most famous designers. In addition, in the suburb of Santa Cruz de Tenerife there are two huge shopping center which boast many stores of famous world and European brands (H&M, Mango, Zara, C&A and etc.).

More colorful and interesting place is indoor Mercado de Nuestra Señora de Africa market which is like a huge courtyard with many shopping arcades. Mostly vegetables, fruits, flowers and spices are sold there, but their choice and variety are truly colossal.

Souvenir shops can be found on almost every street and offer both ordinary souvenirs (magnets, toys, postcards) and original products: knives with carved bone handles, embroidery "roseta" ceramics, intricate wood carvings and jewelry made from semi-precious stones. Moreover, since Tenerife is an island volcanic origin, goods made from pieces of solidified lava are highly valued here - bracelets, rings, decorative dishes, boxes, etc. It is also worth paying attention to local wine and palm honey, which, however, is not cheap.

Transport

On the island where Santa Cruz de Tenerife is located, there are two large international airport — Los Rodeos (North Tenerife) and Reina Sofia (South Tenerife). Each of them is connected to the city by bus service. The island can be reached from many European ports, for example from Cadiz (Spain). Also, major highways pass through Santa Cruz de Tenerife, so you can easily get to any locality islands.

Public transport of the city is presented bus routes and the tram line to La Laguna. The cost of a ticket for one trip is about $1.5, and for a round trip it is $2.75. Tickets can be purchased from machines at stops and from drivers.

An alternative to buses are taxis (white, with a blue stripe on the front door). They work only by meters: from $2.5 per landing and approximately $0.65 per 1 km of travel.

If you have an international driver's license, you can drive around the city and throughout the island in a rented car. In Santa Cruz de Tenerife there are a large number of car rental companies whose identifying mark is the Rent a Car sign. Rental conditions are standard: you will need a foreign passport, an international driver’s license, and in some cases a deposit.

Connection

There are no problems with communication in the city: international calls can be made from telephone booths that operate from small euro coins, from bars and travel companies. In addition, you can always call from hotel room, however, in this case you will have to overpay significantly.

Mobile communications in the city have uniform coverage and good quality. Roaming is available to all tourists who have activated this service in advance.

Internet access is available in most hotels and numerous internet cafes. In many in public places Free Wi-Fi hotspots are available.

Safety

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is calm and prosperous city with a fairly high standard of living. There is virtually no crime here, and local residents are law-abiding and friendly. Moreover, there are no specific places in the city that tourists should not visit. However, despite this, in public places you should not neglect basic property safety measures.

It’s worth mentioning separately about the people who offer lottery tickets or excursions to "cheap shopping places". It is recommended to simply ignore them.

Business climate

The city's economy is based on the service sector, trade, tourism, imports and exports. Industry is rather poorly developed, with the exception of the chemical industry (oil refinery plant).

Thanks to the availability seaport and the presence of the main administrative and financial institutions, the business life of the city is very lively. The most promising industries for business here are construction, trade and public catering.

Real estate

Of course, the recent crisis has affected property values ​​in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, but much less than in mainland Spain. At the same time, prices for all objects here remain lower than on the continent. Yes, on this moment The average cost of housing in the capital fluctuates around $2,300 per 1 m2. Moreover, all residential real estate can be rented all year round. The most popular here are small studios and apartments in residential complexes.

Commercial real estate in the capital is also a profitable and reasonable investment. Catering establishments are especially popular here. For example, a small restaurant can be purchased for $200,000. Hotel prices start at $1.3 million, but they are sold extremely rarely.

Near many hotels and in other places in the city you can see retail outlets with consumer electronics at very attractive prices, which is most often sold by Indians. However, you should not immediately make a “profitable” purchase. Upon closer examination, you can easily notice that the product range is already outdated, and the warranty for them is not valid in all countries. If necessary, it is recommended to visit a specialized store, where the prices are slightly higher, but the quality of the goods is much better.

The capital of the island of Tenerife is the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Translated from Spanish, Santa Cruz literally means “holy cross”; the city received its name in honor of the silver holy cross of the Spanish conquistadors installed on the coast.

By Canarian standards, Santa Cruz is a very large city, with more than 200 thousand people living in it. Crowded and noisy, it is unattractive from a tourist point of view, but you are still obliged to stay there for at least a few days and see a lot of interesting things.

Fans of the Brazilian carnival should visit the capital in February. At this time, the main holiday of the year takes place on the island, namely. Thousands of people take to the streets to celebrate the carnival every year for a week and the same number of people come to take part in this extravagant costume show.

As any capital should, the capital of the island of Tenerife has a lot of attractions. The largest is the García Sanabria Park. This is a real open-air botanical garden and favorite place recreation local residents Moreover, entrance to the park is absolutely free.

And at the “African market” you can buy all kinds of fresh vegetables, fruits and other products, but you can only visit it in the first half of the day.

Playa de las Teresitas is located a few kilometers from the city. The beach is famous for its white sand, which was brought from the Sahara Desert, palm trees and mountains that hang over the beach.

The city is well developed transport system: modern public transport, literally at every step there is bus stops; there is also tram line, along it you can get to the city of La Laguna, which is located next door; and you can take a taxi.

Large and a huge number of small shops that can satisfy even the most demanding customers can be seen mainly in the center of the capital. Souvenirs made by local artisans can be bought on the square. There are also several open markets where you can try and buy fresh fruits and vegetables.

Although Santa Cruz de Tenerife is not resort town, any traveler can have a great time here!