Santa cruz de tenerife canary islands spain. Santa Cruz de Tenerife

We were in Tenerife before the cruise, so we did not consider visiting the Teide volcano. This time I was torn between a visit to the Barranco del Infierno gorge near the city of Masca and a trip to Parque Natural de Anaga in the north of the island. As a result, we chose a trip to the mountains of Anaga. We love mountain landscapes very much, and the first day it was possible to torment my husband with a trip along mountain serpentines

Booked on the website cicar.com Opel Astra for 60.28€. could have taken Opel Corsa for 55, but they were afraid that if they didn’t upgrade and give a car of the same class, then it would be difficult to drive it on mountain roads.After last year's trip to France, my husband already knew that you can't take a car of the lowest class for mountain roads.As a result, we gotSeat Lion with automatic gearbox. She did an excellent job with her task.

Our itinerary: port - El Bailadero - Chamorga - Taganana - Bajo el Roque - Almáciga - Benijo - El Draguillo - Barranco De Afur, Tamadite - Roque Negro - Mirador Pico Del Inglés - Mirador Cruz Del Carmen - Mirador De Jardina - port. You can look it up on google.

There was also the village of Taborno on the route, but we didn’t stop, because time was running out.

I liked the trip, we saw something that is rarely shown to tourists on the island.

In general, in Tenerife I want to come back and come back. Despite its rather small size, the island has some kind of inexplicable aura of attraction.

If interested, there are a lot of photos in my album on Yandex.Fotki.

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Great island of eternal spring

From Los Rodeos North Airport to the capital of Santa Cruz, about 15-20 kilometers. Every half an hour there is a scheduled green bus to the central city bus station. But this option did not suit us with our luggage. At the exit from the arrivals hall, a separate door with a control desk leads to the taxi. We did not have time to approach, as the manager quickly showed a taxi on the street, ready to serve us. We arrived at the Taburiente Hotel in about twenty minutes. The counter in a taxi at the landing starts counting immediately from 3 euros 20 cents. Upon arrival in the city center, 18 euros with kopecks came up.

There are no quadruple rooms in the hotel, I had to take two double rooms for 56.5 euros per day (without breakfast). Only 113 euros for two double rooms. The hotel is normal, there is a swimming pool on the roof, although the water was cool. We had a good night's sleep, left our things in the storage room and went for a walk around Santa Cruz.

García Sanabria Park is a favorite place to relax in the city center. There are many flowerbeds, fountains, monuments, alleys, like a botanical garden. Walking around the city, we realized that we simply want to eat. We booked the hotel without breakfast... We spontaneously decide to go to the port for registration, eat on board and continue exploring the city. A taxi to the port cost 9 euros, registration was quick.

Having tasted delicacies on the first boarding day at the hospitable AIDAsol,decided to go out again self-guided tour in town Santa Cruz. It was in the afternoon, around 3pm. All aboard at eight o'clock.There is not much free time - about five hours. We went along the blue line through the ferry waiting room to the city, to the central square of Spain in search of a tourist bass - our main lifesaver. The price of an adult ticket is 16 euros, a child ticket is 8.5 euros.

There is a Russian audio guide.The literary text is normal, the voice of the announcer without an accent.The interval frequency is 30 minutes.The total duration of the trip is 1 hour.

How different it turned out to be this city Holy Cross on the island of Tenerife. House-palaces in the colonial style in the city center.
A glass new building on the former wasteland outskirts with its twin towers.Narrow streets, tunnels, parks.Unpretentious box houses crawling along the slopes of the mountains.

While inspecting the city from the height of the second floor of the tourist basswe were overtaken by the tramway Tramvia, which connects
port with the town of La Laguna (San Cristobal de La Laguna),the former capital of the island. R the idea came up to ride today and in La Laguna.The light rail terminus is next to the Auditorio.There is a large transport hub with a bus station intercambiador, from where buses go to all sides of the island.

We boarded the tram at the Fundacion stop closest to Plaza de España.It is the second in a row from the Intercambiador bus station. Tickets (1 euro 35 cents) are sold in vending machines at bus stops.

In La Laguna from La Trinidad terminus to the historic centertwo hundred or three hundred meters along the pedestrian zone.

Near the terminus of the tram in La Laguna "La Trinidad"many small shops with good discounts.Here we are fully stocked!Shoe sizes matched.6 (six) euros for a pair of bootsWell, where did you see this...Any shopaholic can get a nervous breakdown at these prices.

History Center former capital islands - La Laguna (San Cristobal de La Laguna)gives the impression of peace and tranquility.Here life flows slowly as usual, even tourists here are not always in a hurry (like us),and relaxed, enjoying the evening gatherings to the chords of the guitar. I did not want to leave La Laguna, but it was time to return to the port.

Upon returning a week later in Santa Cruz, we booked the Silken Atlantida 4 * hotel for 2 nights - 52 euros (without breakfast) for a standard room. The hotel is really worth it! I recommend it before a cruise.

Taxis at the port were rented for the whole day until 20.00 pm according to the following program: unloading suitcases at the hotel, trip to national park"Teide" before cable car. There, the wait is two hours until we get to the crater. Then a trip to the water park "Siam" on the other most southern end of the island of Tenerife. There again waiting - a couple of hours before the closing of the water park. And return to the port capital of Santa Cruz to our hotel. According to the speedometer, this circle around the island is about 200 kilometers, for about as many euros they bargained with the driver.

Ride along national park Teide, up to a height of more than 2000 meters to the foot of the volcano, passed in the struggle with sleep, as at the beginning we drove through the wooded part, where the eucalyptus grew. This special healing-intoxicating smell of equilipt lulls you better than any lullaby. It's good that the observation decks here are so frequent that they stopped at all the miradors about a dozen times, dispersing sleep. We climbed above the clouds along the western part of the island and saw the towns of Orotrava and Puerto de La Cruz from above. The weather was clear and our eyes opened two neighboring islands - La Gomera and La Palma.

The central and main point of the serpentine road through the Teide National Park is the lower station of the cable car to the Teide crater. The slope of the volcano is so steep that there is no road to the crater (no serpentines will help),
and besides, the volcano was declared a natural monument by UNESCO, where any construction is prohibited.

This is a site at a level of about 2500 meters above sea level. The cable car TELEFERICO DEL TEIDE lifts tourists up another kilometer to 3555 meters. The rest is a little less than two hundred meters to the finish 3718 meters on foot along the beaten path.

The ticket price for the cable car to the Teide crater (round-trip) is insane, robbery in broad daylight. 25 euros per adult and 12.5 euros per child. More expensive only for the Sicilian Etna - there is generally skinning - 60 euros from the nose.

The ascent and descent on the cable car itself is also a tourist attraction. There are stunning views. At the top there are many signs and information stands of the highest miradors in the Canary Islands. There are three observation decks near the crater, on different sides of the island. Volcanic landscapes are quite Martian.

To get to the crater, you need to show the caretaker at the upper station of the cable car "avizo" - a free permit to visit the Teide peak. We didn’t have it, but under the guise of a photo shoot, we “freely” passed the Rubicon.

The weather turned out to be so clear that on the other side of the Teide peak, we managed to photograph another island - Gran Canaria!

Having taken almost a record number of photographs of all the visited volcanoes on Teide, we hurried down to the lower cable car station. There we were given a "Certificate of Visiting the Teide Volcano". The photo shows that in vain they neglected the advice to smear sunscreen in the mountains. Tan to the face stuck instantly! Well, everything suits the scoundrel ...

And here we are at our next goal - the SIAM PARK water park. The ticket price is 33 euros, but it is more profitable to buy a double ticket for two parks:
SIAM+LORO for 56 euros.

The only bummer - the schedule on our day was shortened to 17.00. And we hoped that until 19.00 (as in the high season). On the clock - half past four. For the sake of an hour and a half to give such an expensive price ... The toad choked for about five minutes, but I really wanted to. We went and not in vain. There were practically no queues and we managed to ride on all the rides several times.

The mood after extreme water procedures in the water park was 120 points on a hundred-point scale.

The stereotype about the Canary Islands as a warm paradise place, where in the winter-spring time Europeans warm their bones and get relaxation is the purest TRUTH!

The very south of Tenerife, where the tourist enclaves of Las Americas and Los Cristianos are located, is the only place where you can find "bounty - heavenly delight." Local territorial miracle! In the port of Santa Cruz it can rain and strong winds can blow, in the Teide mountains there is snow, and in Las Americas there is warm water and hot sand.

There are breakwaters that dampen ocean waves, and ocean water on a shallow coast quickly warms up to comfortable temperatures.

The most popular beach here among the party youth is MONKEY BEACH. Here, from evening to morning, non-stop, there is an open-air disco for many hours with hit DJs and go-go performances with freaks.

Oh, it’s a pity - I didn’t immediately think of taking a post-cruise hotel not in the cold-windy port of Santa Cruz, but in the party-warm Las Americas. After the water park, we could have stayed here on the beach to relax, and so we just did another photo session "Me and a palm tree" on MONKEY BEACH - the warmest beach in the Canaries.

So, those who want to stay for a couple of days in Tenerife after the cruise, choose hotels in the south of the island, near MONKEY BEACH in Las Americas. Of course, it is far from the northern port - 60 kilometers, but the "heavenly pleasure" costs extra money for the transfer. But the water park is nearby. By the way, the continuation of the banquet in the water park on the second day costs - 10 euros, upon presentation of yesterday's ticket. That is, a two-day entrance to the water park costs 43 euros.

P.S. In fact, the beach is called PLAYA DE TROYA (a triple beach consisting of three small bays separated by breakwaters), and MONKEY BEACH CLUB is the name of the club that hosts discos of the same name. But it is precisely the name MONKEY BEACH that has taken root and now everyone knows where it is.

The next evening after disembarking at 19.30, we bought AirEurope tickets from the northern Tenerife Airport North (Los Rodeos) to Barcelona. I specially took such tickets so that I could devote another whole day of light to rest (excursions) on the island. The plans included visiting the bird zoo with the LORO PARQUE dolphinarium, which is located in the town of Puerto de la Cruz on the west coast of Tenerife, 30 kilometers from the capital.

Buses No. 102 and No. 103 depart from the central bus station of Santa Cruz every half an hour according to the schedule. Ticket price - 5 euros.

Our hotel was well located - just one block from the bus station, 5 minutes walk. The largest network shopping center El Corte Inglas was built near the bus station. The day before, we bought a lot of cuts, sauces, etc. in the grocery supermarket. For dinner, for breakfast, and even left what to take with you to Loro Parque for a lunch snack.

We arrived in 40 minutes. From the final stop of the intercity bus to Loro Park, a twenty-minute walk along the promenade.
Pointers will not let you get lost. For those who do not like hiking, a tourist train runs along the embankment.

The air temperature at noon warmed up to 29 degrees Celsius. Local beaches are gradually filled with vacationers. There is an ocean wave and some water compared to Las Americas is cooler.

For very inquisitive tourists who prefer to hear Additional information from the lips of guides and guides in Loro Park, there is a paid option "Discovery Tour", lasting 1 hour 45 minutes and costing 10 euros. And if it weren’t for Alexey, the host of the discovery tour in Loro Park, our impressions would have been only contemplative, but they turned out to be also meaningful. Thanks to him, we learned a lot of interesting things about the backstage of Loro Parque.

In addition, Alexey, having heard that we want to leave the Discovery Tour earlier, since we need to go back to Santa Cruz to the hotel for luggage, and then to the northern airport for registration, offered to stay until the end of the Discovery Tour and then use his transfer. So lucky, so lucky! Another transport problem solved itself. We even arrived at the airport check-in much earlier.

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Loro park in Tenerife

This island is unique for its natural beauties and most of the cruisers go towards the Teide volcano. But we decided to dedicate this day to our twelve-year-old son. It was decided - we are going to Loro Park for the whole day. To do this, we need to get to the town of PUERTO DE LA CRUZ on the west coast of Tenerife, 30 kilometers from the capital.

There are two options for delivering the body to the park. The first is a taxi. And the second is a shuttle bus. Buses No. 102 and No. 103 depart from the Santa Cruz Central Bus Station every half an hour. Ticket price - 5 euros. In order to spend more time in the park, we decided to go there by taxi, and back, no longer in a hurry, by bus.

It's quite a long drive... We cross the whole island. The road is wide and fast. Somewhere in the middle of the way, the taxi driver offers to stop at the mirador - to take a picture. From here you have a beautiful view of the Teide volcano.

LORO PARK is open daily from 8:30 to 18:45. Entrance fee to the park: adult - 33 euros, children (under 11 years old) - 22 euros. Park website: http://www.loroparque.com/default.aspx

At the entrance we buy a branded yellow baseball cap for 1 euro. Taking pictures with two cockatoos. Photos can be picked up at the exit from the park. Price - 8 euros.

As soon as you cross the threshold of the park, you immediately find yourself in a green, blooming paradise.

In different parts of Loro Park, four types of performances take place daily: fur seals, dolphins, killer whales and parrots. Each - several times.

Fur seal show 09:30 | 12:30 | 14:15 | 15:30 | 17:00
Dolphin show 11:00 | 13:00 | 14:45 | 16:00 | 17:30
Killer Whale Show 11:45 | 13:45 | 15:15 | 16:30
Parrot show 10:30 | 11:30 | 12:30 | 14:00 | 15:00 | 16:00 | 17:00
All performances are approximately 30 minutes long.

In general, the word "most" will constantly accompany you while visiting Loro Parque. The penguinarium "Penguin Planet" is no exception - the largest in the world. 180 birds gathered under its roof, for which a special cannon fires 12 tons of snow every day.

Everything is thought out to the smallest detail. To prevent people from crowding, a moving tape was made. You stand on it ... and at low speed you go around the entire penguinarium in a circle.

It is very good that you can watch penguins both on an ice floe and under water. I would never have thought they were so smart. They float like torpedoes.

Watched the dolphin show at 11 o'clock.

And at 12:00 killer whale show. It deserves attention just because not every zoo can afford them. These animals moved to permanent residence in Loro Park from the USA relatively recently - in 2006. And immediately took pride of place on its logo in the form of a large tail drawn between a dolphin and a parrot.

By the arrival of the most human-friendly predators, a new arena was built, adequate to their size. The pool has a diameter of 120 m and holds 22.5 million liters of sea water!

If you want to watch killer whales from the front rows, take care of a cape in advance (3 €, sold here). Otherwise, you will have to walk around the park wet for the rest of the time. "Dangerous" places are marked with appropriate stickers. By the way, there are no two identical shows even during the day: killer whales are capricious, so trainers adjust to their mood.

Do not skip past the aquarium building: it is located near the exit. There, in addition to the many sea and river inhabitants, you will be pleased with the glass tunnel with sharks swimming right over your head. The aquarium in Loro Park is worthy.

Tigers, chimpanzees, jaguars, a couple of sloths, a flock of flamingos, a family of charming meerkats, crocodiles and huge turtles live in the impressive territory of Loro Park, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation.

Meerkats, it seemed to me, are the most beloved among the children. Watching them is a pleasure. Funny animals. Danila was barely dragged away from them.

Somehow time has passed imperceptibly and it's time for us to leave. A taxi driver was already waiting for us at the exit. We reached Santa Cruz without incident.

It can be seen that this is a large and modern city. Apparently, we will have to come here at least once in any way, since apart from Loro Parque we have not seen anything.

We still had a couple of hours to spare, a little walk around the city in the port area.

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Great day in Tenerife!

In Tenerife, I really wanted to go to Loro Parque. The friend didn't mind. I knew before the cruise that you can take a regular bus, for a long time. We found a married couple from Yaroslavl on the ship, who were knocked out for a taxi ride. The price at the berth is fixed - 50 EUR. For four it is quite normal, because. the bus costs 5.

We arrived in 50 minutes, we also made a couple of stops for photos with beautiful views. Uncle the driver was hospitable. He immediately offered to take us back, but we did not know how long it would take us, incl. refused. Then he offered to call him on his cell, like - Walk as much as you want, I'll drive up at the right time. Deal.

The park is incredible! This is amazing! Handsome, very well maintained. It is immediately evident that it is kept with love. We managed to do all the shows, though running and running. First, the dolphin show at 11:00, they ran from it to the killer whale show at 11:45, then the fur seal show at 12:30. Parrot show at 14:00. They walked around the entire park. I really liked the penguinarium. And you don’t need to go to Antarctica!

So imperceptibly and flew 4 hours in the park. Called the driver, arrived in 15 minutes. Apparently somewhere here taxied.

Approaching the city, they asked us to drop us off at the Auditorio de Tenerife building. In half an hour we just reached the port along the embankment through the beautiful Plaza de Espana.

Great day in Tenerife! And the weather was wonderful, a little cloudy, 20 degrees. It’s a pity that we didn’t have time to go to the town La Laguna, everyone loves it.

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Cruise date - February 2010

Liner:

beautiful volcanic island

We traveled around the island in a rented car. IMHO, the best option! In the northwest of Tenerife, there are the remains of an old volcano, which centuries of erosion has turned into a very picturesque mountain range.

In the center of it is the village of Masca, to which a serpentine road leads. Let me tell you right now - not for the faint of heart! But it's beautiful!

In the center of the island, one of the most massive island volcanoes in the world, Mount Teide, proudly rises. last eruption which was only a couple of hundred years ago, that is, just about by geological standards! The peak itself is quite good, even a cable car leads to its top, up to a height of 3600 meters.

From the Teide you can see sweeping views of a barren world of rust-red craters and black lava flows framed by fluffy ocean clouds. The cold at the top in winter is terrible there, it often snows and the wind just knocks you down!

Molten lava flows, cooling down and shrinking, formed bizarre patterns of cracks. Over time, erosion exposes the basalt and local tourism departments are happy to "unwind" new attractions. Let's say this miracle of nature is positioned as a "stone rose"...

Undoubted and somewhat unexpected for us, the plus of Tenerife turned out to be that the slopes of the volcanoes were overgrown with chic pine forest which is a pleasure to walk through! There are also steep climbing trails to choose from, as well as gentle foresters' roads traversing the slopes.

In general, the Canaries, by Spanish standards, do not shine with the sophistication of architecture, and the coast is often so generally ugly, functional and overpopulated. But there are also quite nice places in the old colonial style. In Tenerife, I can recommend La Orotava.

The capital of the archipelago (Canary Islands) Santa Cruz de Tenerife is located in the northeast and is tightly surrounded by the Anaga mountain system.

History of the capital Tenerife

The city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife was founded in the 15th century on the site where the first Spaniards landed. They were far from tourists, and pursued very specific goals. The empire needed to expand its own territories. A wooden cross was erected at the landing site of the Spaniards, and this became a historical place and a starting point in the growth of the future capital of the Canary Islands. Years passed and Santa Cruz turned from a small port town into a modern metropolis, with many narrow streets in the old center, large squares and green spaces. park areas. And of course with gorgeous beaches and developed tourism infrastructure.

The most port city of the island

Even the conquistadors noted the favorable geopolitical position of the future capital of the island; in their time, Santa Cruz de Tenerife became the most important port. Moreover, in our time it is considered the third largest and most important port in Spain. It is an important logistics hub in transcontinental trade routes, connecting Europe with Africa and America. Every day in the port of Santa Cruz you can see ships flying the flags of the most different countries peace. Small tourist ferries, as well as giant ocean liners, also stop here.

Attractions Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Of course, the capital of Tenerife does not reach the title of a metropolis: the whole city can easily be walked. Let's take a walk through the very center of the city and learn about the main attractions of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. All of them are concentrated mainly near the Plaza de España. The central place on the Plaza de España is occupied by a memorial in memory of the bloody Civil War of 36-39 of the last century. Not far from the square is the Church of St. Francis, built in the 17th century. Another of the attractions of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is worth paying attention to the church of Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, dating from the 16th century. Inside it is stored the same wooden cross erected by the first Spanish settlers, and this is not only a symbol of the capital, but of all the Canary Islands. Walking to Plaza Candelaria, you will reach the main pedestrian street of the capital - Calle Castillo. It is full of tourist and commercial life with shops, restaurants and cafes. Nearby is the central market of the city: Mercado de Nuestra señora de Africa. Here you can buy fresh products for dinner or try ready meals. Despite the fact that it is far to the east, local sellers are not averse to haggling.

Museums of the capital of Tenerife

If you have a free moment, be sure to visit the Museum of Archeology and Anthropology. Here is a unique collection of household items of the Guanches - the indigenous population of the Canary Islands. These include mummies found in the caves of the island, tools for agriculture, weapons, household items, household utensils, jewelry and much more. From the weapons of the Guanches, let's move on to more recent times and look at the collection presented at the Military Museum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Armor, weapons from the time of the conquistadors and more modern types of weapons. The museum also has a truly unique specimen: according to legend, it is here that the cannon is located, from which the hand of the famous Admiral Nelson was torn off by a shot. Whoever comes to the Canary Islands with a sword will be left without a hand. We will move from weapons to the world of art and go to the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Nature. Each of them has something to see and make an impression of the cultural life of the island, as well as the flora and fauna.

Modern symbols of the city

Of course, this is a little strange, but this makes the building of the Opera Auditorio Tenerife, built in 2003, even more mysterious and attractive. The Canarian twin towers look interesting, reaching more than 100 meters into the sky. Out of time in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, another symbol is the largest park in the entire archipelago - Garcia Sanabria. Its area is more than 67 thousand square meters. m. True, I must say that the capital of Tenerife is a very green city in itself. Trees grow on every street in the city.

Carnival de Tenerife

Once a year, in February or March, the capital of Tenerife hosts a carnival, which is considered one of the largest and most colorful in Europe. Residents of all the islands and Europeans come to Santa Cruz especially for the holiday, and not just to see the action, but also to take an active part in it. At first glance, it seems that the carnival is a fun and unpretentious pastime, but in fact, preparations for it take many months. The holiday begins with the choice of the carnival queen, after which the traditional parade of horses takes place, and that is why the wildest fun begins. Tenerife Carnival is even called the little Rio for the similarity of colors and atmosphere. But it is worth saying that the Brazilian carnival - Canary, is inferior in scale.

beach capital

In the east direction from the capital, it is located where the most popular and largest beach of this area of \u200b\u200bthe island is located. Tourists from Europe and the inhabitants of the islands come here to bask in the sun, basking on the white sand. By the way, the sand here is real - from the Sahara desert. In 1973, it was brought here in incredible quantities.
There are several diving clubs in the suburbs of the capital, and dives are designed for both beginners and seasoned divers. The underwater landscape is very beautiful and rich: coral reefs, underwater caves and even a real sunken ship. But it’s better not to go there, as local underwater inhabitants have been living there for a long time: sharks, rays and barracudas.

Around the capital

The capital of the Canary Islands is also the starting point of various tourist routes. From here starts the journey for everyone who wants to conquer highest point Anagi - mountain range, at the foot of which is the village of San Andres. To the north of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the first capital of the island - the town of La Laguna, which, although it has lost the official status of the capital, is behind the scenes the capital of culture. If you drive away from the capital at a decent distance, then you should pay attention to

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 got its name in honor of the silver holy cross of the Spanish conquistadors installed on the coast.

By Canarian standards, Santa Cruz is very Big city more than 200 thousand people live in it. Crowded and noisy, it is unattractive from a tourist point of view, but it is still necessary to stop 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 enchanting costume show.

As befits any capital, the capital of the island of Tenerife has a lot of attractions. The largest is Garcia Sanabria Park. This is a real open-air botanical garden and a favorite vacation spot for locals, besides, admission to the park is absolutely free.

And in the "African market" you can buy all kinds of fresh vegetables, fruits and other products, but you can visit it only in the morning.

Playa de las Teresitas is located a few kilometers from the city. The beach is known 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 are bus stops; there is also a tram line, it can be used to get to the city of La Laguna, which is located in the neighborhood; 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 at 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 a resort town, any traveler can have a great time in it!

Plaza de España is the most important and largest square in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, located in the Canary Islands.

The square was erected in 1929 between Morskoy Prospekt and Sreteniya Square. The main attraction of the square is the Monument to the Fallen, built after the Civil War according to the plan of Garcia Escamez. The monument is a tower in the form of a cross, at the top of which there is an observation deck. Under the monument there is an underground chapel, which is already empty today.

Over time, the square was rebuilt according to the design of architects from Switzerland who won the competition. The result of the reconstruction of the square was a fountain with sea water, installed in its center. At night, Plaza de España is illuminated by many lights and garlands.

Coordinates: 28.46761600,-16.24744900

Taganana

Taganana is a small beautiful mountain village located in the southeastern part of Tenerife, Canary Islands. Its area is 1.5 hectares, which housed several white houses and a small church, made in a medieval style. The locals mostly work in small fields or gardens. From here, magnificent views of the ocean and mountains open up, you can take unique photos and breathe fresh air. A narrow serpentine leads to the village, passing through which you will experience many extreme sensations.

When you reach your destination, you will be pleasantly surprised by the many homemade fish restaurants where you can taste delicious Canarian cuisine - fried octopus, goat cheese, the freshest fish and Canarian rosé wine, which has a unique taste and aroma. Not far from Taganana there are three natural wild beaches: Playa de Benigio, Playa de Almaciga and Playa de Roque, which are considered the most beautiful on the island of Tenerife. The special flavor of Taganan will give you a lot of unforgettable impressions that will be remembered for many years.

Coordinates: 28.56085300,-16.21818100

And what sights of Santa Cruz de Tenerife did you like? There are icons next to the photo, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.

La Arena beach

La Arena beach is in the center resort town Puerto Santiago, comfortably located in the western part of the island of Tenerife. This area is securely sheltered from the northern winds, so the local climate is stable and very mild. Throughout the year, the temperature varies by 5-6 degrees, reaching its peak in August. La Arena beach does not stand out for special frills; it is not the best place for people who prefer extreme pastime. There are no noisy discos and large crowds of people in the vicinity of the beach, so this place is suitable for those who want to relax and take a break from the noisy city.

La Arena Beach attracts tourists from all over the world every year due to its black sand, blue ocean and wonderful scenery. Almost every place here seems to be copied from the pictures, so professional photographers often come here. Two panoramic elevators have been built near the La Arena beach, which take everyone to the beautiful observation deck. Entrance to the beach is absolutely free, but you will have to pay for renting a sunbed or umbrella. A lifeguard team is on duty around the clock at La Arena.

Coordinates: 28.22956200,-16.84106500

San Agustin Beach is a small urban beach that is designed for a relaxing holiday. This is a cozy place for those who seek peace and tranquility. Usually on weekdays there are not many vacationers on the beach. Come here on weekends locals living nearby. San Agustin Beach is sandy. There are several showers on the beach. Entrance to them is free. There is a small shop next to the showers where you can rent umbrellas and sun loungers. The total length of the beach is six hundred and seventy meters.

Near the beach there is a convenient parking for two hundred cars. There are several hotels and inns along the coastline of San Agustin Beach. A beautiful promenade has been built near the beach. There are several shops, bars and cafes here. In them, visitors will be offered dishes made from seafood. Nearby is a small market where you can buy products and necessary things.

Coordinates: 28.39593100,-16.65355700

Castle of Castillo de Paso Alto

In the near future, a Francoist torture museum is planned to be built in the Paso Alto fortress.

Members of the Association for the Restoration of Historical Memory want to turn the castle, located on the coast of Tenerife, into a memorial, as well as restore the former appearance of the building, as it was from the end of the 18th to the beginning of the 19th centuries.

The fortress of Paso Alto is considered one of the examples of the unique architecture of the Canary Islands. The walls of the castle withstood the siege of the island in 1657, when Robert Blake tried to capture Tenerife, and a century later, when Admiral Nelson tried to do the same. During the years of Francoism, the building was used as a prison building.

Coordinates: 28.53071700,-16.36410600

Castle of San Juan Bautista

The fortress of San Juan Bautista was named after John the Baptist and is one of the oldest and main attractions of Santa Cruz.

The castle was built in 1641 and also has a second name - Black Castle. The powerful Fort of San Juan Bautista is located in the very center of the city and attracts attention with parapets, loopholes for artillery pieces and a round tower. The building played an important role in protecting the city from invaders.

Every year in July, the castle grounds host a reenactment of the battle of Santa Cruz, during which Horatio Nelson, a British admiral, was defeated while trying to capture the fortress.

Coordinates: 28.47053500,-16.24878200

Auditorio de Tenerife

The Auditorio de Tenerife is an unparalleled piece of architecture, with avant-garde design and wild popularity. Made the building captivating and eye-catching spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. Such an unusual creation saw the light in 2003.

The interior decoration is as beautiful as the exterior: the symphony and chamber halls. The stage of the first one is 17 meters, the depth of the orchestra pit is 14 meters, the effect of "sound around". An enviable set, I must say.

This very stage regularly hosts the best symphony orchestras, jazz, pop and rock musicians perform here. It also teaches dancing and hosts a lot of musical events.

Coordinates: 28.45631600,-16.25131100

Market Municipal Nuestra Señora de Africa

Market Municipal Nuestra Señora de Africa is located in Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife. It is best to visit it in the early morning - it is at this time that you can find a huge selection of exotic products and the freshest fish. And on Sundays, next to the main pavilions, there is a flea market offering interesting goods.

The market is located in a magnificent building built in oriental style, the main entrance is decorated with towers with spiers. The first floor of the market is occupied by butcher shops, among the products of which jamon, chorizo sausage, various varieties of ham and rabbit meat are especially popular.

In the lower, underground floor, fish rows are located. The range of fish shops impresses with its richness and diversity. And the main advantage of the local market is the exceptional freshness and quality of products. There is also an abundance of fruits and vegetables, most of which are grown in Tenerife. It is worth visiting the stalls with all kinds of spices, which can be purchased as a souvenir.

Coordinates: 28.46322800,-16.25193100

Port of Santa Cruz

The port of Santa Cruz is the city's commercial, fishing, sports and passenger port, as well as the main one in the Canary Islands and the second largest in Spain. It is divided into four harbors and is located in Santa Cruz Bay.

The port was formed on the site of La Carniceria beach at the small bay of Blas Dias, chosen by fishermen. Previously, the port was used as a means of communication with the outside world and defense against pirates. Soon he became the main one on the island. In the 16th century, the castle of San Cristobal was built here - the first main fortress of Tenerife, and in the 17th century two defensive bastions were erected.

Today, the port of Santa Cruz is the largest in Tenerife and the first fishing port in the Canary Islands. Up to 8,000 tons of fish are caught here every year. And also in this port among all the Canary Islands, the largest passenger traffic. This is the largest Spanish port in terms of the number of longboats, cruisers and other ships. It is the only one in the Canary Islands that maintains a permanent connection with the Iberian Peninsula.

Coordinates: 28.48592100,-16.23636600

Playa de las Teresitas beach

Playa de las Teresitas welcomes its guests with a light sea breeze and crystal clear water. Sand was specially brought here from the distant desert of the Sahara, and in order for the waves not to interfere with vacationers, a barrier pier was built along the entire beach. Despite the fact that the beach was created artificially, it gives the impression of a piece of land untouched by man. There are no ubiquitous hotels here - instead, landscapes adorn the tops of the mountains. Powerful palm trees are planted along the entire one and a half kilometer beach strip.

The Playa de las Teresitas beach is the perfect place for a relaxing holiday. Just keep in mind that due to its popularity, the beach is always crowded, especially on weekends. But there is always something to do here - volleyball games or yoga or aerobics classes are regularly held on the beach.

Coordinates: 28.50950300,-16.18519300

The most popular attractions in Santa Cruz de Tenerife with descriptions and photos for every taste. choose best places to visit the famous places of Santa Cruz de Tenerife on our website.

Hello friends! We are starting to tell you about the cities of the island of Tenerife and the first will be its capital - Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Let's learn the history of the city, how to get to it, get an idea of the most interesting places worth visiting and develop a plan for visiting the capital for tourists. Let's get started!

In order to get acquainted with the city in general terms, we will describe its history, known and written a thousand times on many sites. We will not deviate from traditions, the capital is the capital. The history of Santa Cruz (Spanish for Holy Cross), as such, begins as a small fishing village, which during the 16th century became an important port due to its location in the closed harbor of La Laguna. In the next century, the city becomes the administrative center, and in the following - the capital of the entire archipelago.

It should be noted that since 1927 the city of Santa Cruz (Spanish: Santa Cruz de Tenerife) has not been the only capital of the Canary archipelago. Once every four years, the autonomous parliament changes its place of work and moves to the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spanish: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) on the island of Gran Canaria.

The capital is not a tourist resort at all and cannot boast of an abundance of hotels with beautiful pools, because most tourists prefer the southern part of the island with a milder climate for recreation. But for Santa Cruz, you can allocate a day for excursions, shopping and just walking. In the article about the sights of Tenerife, we already wrote about interesting places in the capital that are worth seeing.

For those interested in churches and temples

Initially, a small chapel was built on the site of today's temple, later, in its place, the first temple in Tenerife was erected and the first parish on the island was formed. The temple until 1638 was called the Church of the Holy Cross (Spanish: Santa Cruz), hence the name of the city. From the square where the temple is located, the construction of today's capital began.

Masonic Temple

The Masonic Temple (Spanish: Templo Masónico de Santa Cruz de Tenerife) is a national architectural monument. The building has been closed for about 26 years, at the moment it is undergoing historical restoration and it will not be possible to get inside. The facade of the building is decorated with sphinxes, and under the roof of the building there is a bas-relief of the Masonic symbol "The All-Seeing Eye".

The symbol of the city and the most recognizable building with unusual architecture - concert hall Auditorio de Tenerife (Spanish: Auditorio de Tenerife), which includes chamber and symphony halls. It was depicted on one of the postage stamps, and the acoustics of the hall is considered one of the best in the world.

Very close to the Auditorio de Tenerife is the old fort of Castillo Negro (Spanish: Castillo Negro) or Castillo de San Juan (Spanish: Castillo de San Juan) - the castle of St. John the Baptist, which has historical significance for the city.

Museums

Museum of Fine Arts(Spanish: Museo Municipal De Bellas Artes). Several galleries with a wide variety of exhibits. There are also various exhibitions.

Plaza de España

The consecration throughout the square is made in the form of garlands with lamps, similar to flowing drops of water. An integral part of the square is the Avenue of the Duke of St. Helena (Spanish: Alameda del Duque de Santa Elena), planted with trees.

Park Garcia Sanabria, Parque Garcia Sanabria

Park Garcia Sanabria (Spanish: Parque Garcia Sanabria) is the largest city park, botanical garden and a favorite meeting place for residents of the capital. There is also a flower bed with the "Flower Clock" and alleys with sculptures of the last century, and on central square with a fountain there are sculptures of the mayor Garcia Sanabria and Dr. Guigo, thanks to whom this park was created.

Park Palmetum, Palmetum

Park-botanical garden Palmetum (Spanish Palmetum) built on the former city dump today is a great place for walking and relaxing. About 400 species of palm trees from all over the world are grown in the park, many of which are on the verge of extinction. On the official website, you can visit the park in 3-D mode.

Shops and shopping

Huge mall Santa Cruz
El Corte Inglés Trading House (Spanish: El Corte Inglés)
Meridiano (Centro Comersial Meridiano) - a classic shopping center with a cinema
And they haven’t talked about Calle de Castillo yet, it is located not far from Plaza de España and Candelaria. This is a pedestrian street with many shops, among which you can find branded things. When planning walks in the capital and this street in particular, do not forget about the siesta, most shops and government offices are closed during the daytime from about 13:00 to 16:30 - 17:00.

Things to do in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

However, every year, for two weeks in February, the Canaries forget about work and a measured lifestyle and plunge into the festive atmosphere of the carnival. A large number of tourists come to the capital, the streets are flooded with crowds of people, divided into two categories. The first is the official participants of the carnival: musicians, costumed dance and vocal groups, up to fifty groups and more than a hundred associations. The second group is ordinary spectators, city dwellers and tourists.

The Choice of the Carnival Queen (Spanish: Gala de Eleccion de la Reina) is a grandiose performance broadcast throughout the country.
The first procession is an open event called the heralding cavalcade (Spanish: Cabalgata Anunciadora), which announces the arrival of carnival in the city. Tickets for this procession are not needed, people will walk the streets of the city like a multi-colored snake and rejoice at the beginning of the holidays.
The main procession of the carnival is a key event of the holiday, which should not be missed. It will last more than four hours, end with fireworks and festivities until the morning.
The funeral of a sardine (Spanish: Entierro de la Sardina) symbolizes the end of the carnival - an ironic procession with a huge cardboard stuffed sardine, which is burned in the square, in general, the Spanish "Shrovetide".

Most of the coast of Santa Cruz is occupied by the port and there is absolutely nowhere to swim. Therefore, Playa de las Teresitas (Spanish: Playa de las Teresitas), located a few kilometers from the capital in the town of San Andres, is considered urban. A barrier pier has been built along the beach, so there are practically no waves there and the water warms up faster.

Playa de las Teresitas is the only beach on the island with golden sand brought from the Sahara in the 70s. The beach is wide, well-equipped and has a length of about 1200 meters. The only thing I don't like there is the constant wind and fine sand in the face (perhaps we were so lucky with the weather).

Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The port of the capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife is rightfully considered the largest in Tenerife and the second most important port in Spain. It leads in terms of passenger traffic, is the largest fishing port in the Canary Islands, and thanks to it, communication is maintained not only with the rest of the islands of the Canary archipelago, but also with mainland Spain.

On the video you can see the main sights and see Santa Cruz de Tenerife from a bird's eye view.

Today I will tell you about the capital of the island of Tenerife - Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the sights of the city. You will learn how to get the most out of your trip in a short time.

I visited Santa Cruz de Tenerife at the beginning of January. Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the city of eternal spring and the weather here, even in January, is simply excellent.

Santa Cruz is a modern city where, in addition to excellent weather, you can get the best experience of local gastronomy, visit both historical and modern monuments.

In order to get acquainted with the main sights of the city, I recommend that you use the City Sightseeing service. In addition to traveling to tourist bus, the service also includes walking tours, and free admission to the local ethnographic museum, the Palmetum and guided tours of the Auditorio. And that's not all - you can also request a ticket to travel to the historic capital of Tenerife - La Laguna and Las Teresitas beach.

Attractions Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The symbol of the city and a must-see monument is the Auditorio. , the author of which is the famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, known for his work Cities of Science and Arts in Valencia . Auditorio fully reflects the style of the author - you can clearly trace the similarity of the monument with the buildings of the City of Science and Arts. The grandeur of the project is really amazing: the walls of the Auditorio are finished trencadis - pieces of a mosaic in the style of Gaudí. The Auditorio is a concert building and venue for various cultural events.
The most beautiful botanical garden and the place of the best panoramas of the city is the Palmetum. . Here you will see the greatest variety of varieties of palms and other tropical and subtropical plants from around the world. The park is divided into zones, in each of which you can explore different types of palm trees.

And of course, don't miss the best panorama of Santa Cruz de Tenerife - the perfect place for the most beautiful photos.

The Palmetum is a unique project that has transformed a garbage dump site into a beautiful botanical garden.
For those who are interested in ethnography and history, I definitely advise you to visit the main museum of the city called "La naturaleza y el hombre" . In the museum you can get acquainted with the history of the origin of the island, with its fauna and flora, as well as learn about the aboriginal tribe that originally inhabited Tenerife. The museum also features interesting interactive materials.
The historical center, where the main old buildings of Santa Cruz are located, is Noria Street (calle de la Noria). This is a unique place that has preserved its original authentic atmosphere. It is here that you will see typical Tenerife houses with wooden balconies. This street is also famous for its restaurants, which offer both local and foreign cuisine.
I recommend taking a walk Garcia Sanabria Park . Here you will see many subtropical and tropical plants. Nice place to relax and take a leisurely stroll.
Visit a picturesque and different city Plaza España . There is also a tourist office here.
Take a walk around the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife . Almost every day you can see cruise ships here, and at night the port is especially beautiful.