Attractions

The metropolitan area of Santa Cruz de Tenerife-La Laguna is the largest metropolitan area and the largest of the Canaries at 366.85 square kilometres.  It has a population density of 1156.33 inhabitants/km2. According to data available from the Government of the Canary Island of Tenerife and the metropolitan area of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the municipalities of Santa Cruz, San Cristobal de La Laguna, El Rosario and Tegueste. There are thought to be 392,431 inhabitants living Tenerife.

According to the draft AUDES5, this conurbation is also formed by the municipalities of El Sauzal and Tacoronte, bringing the total population to 424,200.

The canaries were harassed by many pirates looting and forcing the city to reinforce defensive constructions. Preserved today are:

Castillo de San Juan Bautista: Known popularly as the Black Castle for being next to the Caleta de Negros, a small cove at the foot of Palmetum. It was built in the first half of the seventeenth century and rebuilt in 1765. On your left is the Auditorio de Tenerife, on the right is the Parque Marítimo Cesar Manrique and opposite are the towers of Santa Cruz. It is a strong coastal artillery circular plant. It is the best preserved on the island and has Spanish Historical Heritage.

Castle or Tower of San Andres helped defend the island from pirate attacks as seen at Almeyda Fort Military Museum of the Canaries.

The most important religious buildings are:

Church of the Conception: shrine built after the Spanish conquistadors landed on the shores of Anaza (Santa Cruz de Tenerife). It is the main temple of the city, which is why it is called the Cathedral of Santa Cruz.  Although not a cathedral, it is the image of the city’s patron, St. James. An example of this is the Baroque in the Canary Islands, nailed to the cross protected by Alonso Fernandez de Lugo after disembarking on the beach near the old church. This church is the image of Holy Mary of Hope Macarena Santa Cruz.

Church of St. Francis: One of the most famous churches and the oldest in the city. This church is the famous image of Christ in Santa Cruz.

The neoclassical style is mainly represented in official buildings like the former Captaincy General, the Parliament of the Canary Islands or the Masonic Temple of Santa Cruz de Tenerife of the loggia Anaza (San Lucas).

Examples of modernist architecture are the existing buildings around the Plaza de los Patos and Las Ramblas. The most distinguished are the old snuff mill and the Struggle to

Architecture following the Spanish Civil War denotes power in size, which is manifested in the building of the civilian government and the Recova (Mercado de Nuestra Senora de Africa) and the Cabildo de Tenerife.

City growth has occurred in recent years, primarily in the suburbs of Cape Town and Los Llanos. In this area there has been a focus on new buildings like the Palace of Justice, the Multipurpose Building II, President of the Government, the Transport Interchange in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the Tenerife Auditorium.

Architects of international stature have made interesting works in the city, Santiago Calatrava (Auditorio de Tenerife and the International Center for Fairs and Congresses Tenerife) whose Great Hall is the largest covered space in Canary Herzog & de Meuron (remodeling of the Plaza Spain and TEA – Tenerife Espacio de las Artes) are proof of this.

Also highlighted by its design is the CajaCanarias Headquarters, the headquarters of Caja Rural de Tenerife or Torres Santa Cruz, the highest skyscraper in the Canary Islands which is higher than residential buildings in Spain. Also in the city of Santa Cruz there is a building (known simply as “The Skyscraper”) which was the highest in the city until the construction of the towers of Santa Cruz.