Los Realejos

Los Realejos is a municipality belonging to the Spanish province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, situated in the North of the island of Tenerife. It is situated in the Orotava Valley at the foot of Mount Teide, only a few kilometres from Orotava and Puerto de la Cruz. Los Realejos is 42 km from the capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

It has an area of 57 km ² and a population of over 37 000 inhabitants and the highest point is 420 meters above sea level. The main part of the town is Realejos which has three zones, Realejo High, San Agustin and Realejo Bass amongst the many towns and districts as Toscal-Longuera, Santa Cruz, Tigaiga Palo Blanco Icod or High.

The town belonged to Menceyato of Taoro and after military action and conquest of Tenerife on July 25 1496 and the patron St. James, patron of the villa, entrusted the first Parish church and Castle built on the Island, now the parish of St. James Parent.

On the other side of the ravine called conquerors Godinez are the most fertile lands in Tenerife that formed part of the negotiations completed after the conquest/ The land was  reserved for Adelantado Fernandez de Lugo and later it was named Hacienda de Princes.

The Parish of St. James and the Treasury expand Realejo as up till 1954 and now the present municipality was divided into two distinct Realejo districts called the respectively Realejo High and Low and are still in use today to describe the two neighbourhoods.

Monuments and places of interest
Matriz parish of St. James. 1496 was The First Temple of Christian Tenerife and was declared an historical artistic monument of national character by Royal Decree 508/1983 of February 2, BOE N º 69. others of Cultural Interest are The Parroquia de la Concepcion Realejo Lower, The Church of Our Lady of Mount Caramel St. Augustine, The Well of Cultural Interest, The Finance from The Princes Realejo Lower,

The Casa de Viera y Clavijo Realejo H, The Hacienda de Castro Rambla de Castro a Protected Area, The Lifting Water Gordejuela Rambla de Castro built in 1903, was installed inside the first steam engine in Tenerife, The Beach Burgas, The Playa de Castro, the Fajana the beach and the Playa del Socorro.

Local festivals
Usually it is said that Realejos Spain is the place with more parties and that the 365 days of the year are covered by a party somewhere in any district.

Some of the most important festivals are, The Lifting Water Gordejuela Los Realejos,

The San Vicente Martir, co de la Villa, is celebrated on January 22, The Carnival February-March, which included two groups of carnival participants who regularly win the Murgas Northern Murga Trapaseros and Archicuerpos competitions.

The Easter parade stresses the imagery of the time with procession of images of the Nazarene and the Fiestas de la Cruz on May 3. On May 2 enrame crosses are mainly hosted in Los Realejos and the La Santa Cruz. In the evening of the next day, in Realejo High, Middle Street and Sun compete with each other with a fireworks show during the procession of La Cruz.

The Regional Pilgrimage of San Isidro Labrador last Sunday in May. The e Fiestas de Mayo in Los Realejos are held in honor of Santa Cruz, San Isidro Labrador, Santa Maria de la Cabeza and Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, coinciding with the last Sunday of May, and takes place with The Pilgrimage of San Isidro Labrador and the festival is declared of National Tourist Interest.

The festival includes people wearing the traditional costumes and the island highlighting  the tradition of folk Realejos and accompanying them are images of San Isidro Labrador and Santa María de la Cabeza. To look out for is the Fiestas de Nuestra Señora del Carmen late July and The Feast of Our Lady of the Afflicted in late August.