Spain’s Canary Islands are located on the Atlantic Ocean, closer to Africa than to Europe. The volcanic archipelago is made up of seven islands, Tenerife being the largest. With a wonderful climate and around 71 degrees average annual temperature, Tenerife has 43 protected areas that occupy almost half of its territory. The most majestic is Teide National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to Spain’s tallest mountain volcano, the Teide with more than 12,000 feet of elevation. More luxurious destinations in Spain and around the world.
A visit to Tenerife offers varied attractive options: beautiful pristine beaches of black volcanic sand such as Los Cristianos, Troya and Las Gaviotas; lush nature preserves for those who like hiking, and an unparalleled gastronomy featuring local wines of excellent quality. Everything is close by, as in Tenerife distances seem to disappear: a journey from the beach through a Tertiary Era forest to a volcanic landscape can be done in less than an hour.
The island, which attracts more than 5 million visitors every year, has become an exotic and desired destination. It has two international airports, with over 200 daily connections.
One of Tenerife’s greatest attractions is the friendliness and hospitality of its people. The entertainment is guaranteed year round through the island’s plentiful celebrations, and beyond the tourist areas, the (isleños), islanders culture permeates throughout the year in their rural rituals, striking landscapes, music, traditional carnivals, architecture and religious manifestations.
The monuments, houses and churches of the towns and cities of Tenerife are reminiscent of the urban look of many parts of Latin America. It is the legacy of local architects, who once settled in the territories of the New World and faithfully recreated the image of their homelands.
The capital city is Santa Cruz de Tenerife. A metropolis where elegant colonial mansions, beautiful squares and boulevards, home to the most exclusive boutiques, are combined with modern buildings such as the Tenerife Auditorium and the International Trade Fair and Congress Center, both designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, or the Tenerife Space for the Arts (TEA) by the Swiss architecture firm Herzog & De Meuron.
In the town of La Laguna, in the northeast of the island, also declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the visitor will marvel at the traditional houses and patios, while in Adeje, to the south, they will find the Magma Arte & Congresos, a multifunctional facility whose unique architecture evokes the shape of a volcano and lava.
Tenerife is splendid and different, a captivating destination for its many unique attractions, beauty and quality of life. ■
