Let’s discover La Laguna

Introduction San Cristobal de La Laguna is situated in the Northern part of the island of Tenerife.

It is the 2 nd most populous city of Tenerife and the 3 rd most-populous of the Canary Islands with inhabitants

La Laguna historical center was declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1999.

The University of La Laguna It was founded in 1701 and it was the first university city of the archipielago. Nowadays, students study different careers at the University of La Laguna

Do you remember ….? When was LA LAGUNA declared World Heritage Site?

HISTORY San Cristobal de La Laguna has been inhabited since times of ‘los Guanches’, about years ago. We know this because of the archeological sites found there.

Many years ago, there was a lake in the area called ‘Aguere’ by the Aboriginal Guanches and so the name of the area where the city is established nowadays was “Aguere" (the name is still used in the literature). This lake dried and disappeared and because of this the city started to get bigger and bigger.

In 1494 there was a battle (the Battle of Aguere) between In 1494 there was a battle (the Battle of Aguere) between the natives of Tenerife, the aboriginal Guanches, and the forces of the Crown of Castile, led by the Adelantado (a military governor) Alonso Fernández de Lugo and was a Castilian victory. The native kings of Tenerife surrender to Javier Alonso Fernández de Lugo, July 25, 1496.

The city was founded between 1496 and 1497 by Alonso Fernández de Lugo and was the capital of the island after the conclusion of the conquest of the islands. Fernández de Lugo presenting the captured native kings of Tenerife to Isabel y Fernando

The city soon became the residence of the ‘Capitanes Generales de Canarias’ during three centuries and also of the ‘Cabildo de Tenerife’ because the city was situated in the interior of the island and it was free of the continuous sackings by pirates. San Cristobal de La Laguna in 1880

Over the years the city was losing population and Over the years the city was losing population and economic weight compared to its port, the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and in the 19th century the capital was transferred from La Laguna to Santa Cruz.

It was made in the XVI century although its appearance has changed over the years. The central fountain made of marble, was made in 1870 and it was brought from Florencia. The ‘Plaza del Adelantado’ and the ‘calle Adelantado’ are named after him (El Adelantado Alonso Fernández de Lugo)

Around the square, we can find the Town Hall, the Courts, and the Municipal Market (temporaly situated in the ‘plaza del Cristo’), and the church ‘San Miguel Arcangel’. The Town Hall

DO YOU REMEMBER….? How did the ‘aboriginal guanches’ call the lake in the area?...

HISTORIC SITES 1. Important religious monuments in the Canary Islands: The cathedral ‘Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, the church ‘La Concepción’, the church ‘Cristo de La Laguna’, the church ‘Santo Domingo’, Convent of Santa Catalina… 1. Important religious monuments in the Canary Islands: The cathedral ‘Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, the church ‘La Concepción’, the church ‘Cristo de La Laguna’, the church ‘Santo Domingo’, Convent of Santa Catalina… 2. Palaces and ancestral homes that emerge at every turn through the old streets: Palacio de Salazar, Casa de Lercaro, Casa del Corregidor, Palacio de la Nava, …

IMPORTANT RELIGIOUS MONUMENTS

Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán It was built in the 17th century, although it has a 16th century Plateresque door.

CONVENT OF SANTA CATALINA The convent of cloistered nuns was opened in 1611 above thebhouse of the Governors. Once a year, on the 15th of February, the doors of the convent are opened to show the faithful uncorrupted body of the Sister María de Jesús de León Delgado ( ). Sister María de Jesús de León Delgado ( ).

The church ‘La Concepción’ was constructed in the 16th century, although succesive alterations have left a mixture of Gothic, plateresque and Mudejar styles

The most outstanding of them all is the Cathedral, situated on what was the 16th-century church of Los Remedios. In this place the remains of ‘el Adelantado Alonso Fernández de Lugo’ lie.

The Christ of La Laguna has got a dark colour and it is one of the most worshipped images in the Canary Islands together with the Virgen de Candelaria. It is the oldest religious image of the archipelago. It is also one of the best images as part of the historical heritage of the Canary Islands.

El Cristo de la Laguna came to the island in 1520, at the request of Governor Alonso Fernández de Lugo. It is situated in the ‘Real Santuario del Santísimo Cristo de La Laguna ’

Palaces and ancestral homes

NAVA PALACE It began to be built in 1585 and the facade was reconstructed by Tomás de Nava i Griñon in 1776.There is currently a project to turn it into a ‘Parador Nacional’

Casa de los Capitanes Generales Captain General Diego de Alvarado Bracamonte had this mansion built in the first third of the 17th century. Several Governors resided here during the 18th century. It has an interesting interior patio and represents a fine example of Canary Island style. Today the Municipal Tourist Office is situated here.

SALAZAR PALACE It was built in the 17th century and nowadays it is known as ‘el Obispado’. On the 23rd of January, 2006, it was devastated by a fire After several years of restoration and reconstruction,the building opens again on June 19th 2009.

Casa de lercaro Francisco Lercaro de León, Lieutenant General of Tenerife, had the house built in It is a fine example of Canary Island civil architecture. The building, is today the Tenerife History Museum

I.E.S. Canarias Cabrera Pinto It was the first and the oldest highschool in the Canary Islands (it was founded in 1846) In the past, it was was a convent of Augustinian Friars.

Do you remember….? What place is home to the Tenerife History Museum?

THAT’S ALL FOLKS Now prepare yourself to play a game and use the information you have been given to get the correct answers