Puerto de la Cruz is a city and municipality in the northern part of the
island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. It was formerly known by its
English translation, "Port of the Cross", although nowadays it is known in
all languages by its Spanish name. It is located on the north coast, 4 km
northwest of La Orotava, and 30 km west of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The TF-5
motorway passes through the municipality. In Spanish the inhabitants
are known as Portuenses. With an area of 8.73 km2, the municipality is the
smallest in Tenerife. The population is 28,929. The elevation
of the town centre is 9 m AMSL. The highest point is Las Arenas, a volcanic
cone with an elevation of 249 m. Historical population
Economy Puerto de la Cruz occupies a prominent
place in the history of tourism of the islands. The export economy established
by the European colonizers after the conquest in the 15th century generated
large commercial and passenger movements for decades. The first foreign visitors
quickly felt drawn to the beneficial qualities of the weather in the Taoro
Valley. Before mass tourism existed in Puerto de
la Cruz, minority tourism catered for privileged elites who were interested in
climatology, botany and the tranquility of the location. The proximity of the
Canary Islands to Europe meant that travel for health reasons was a primary
driver for launching modern tourism here.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the environment of Puerto de la Cruz
meant that it attracted many researchers and exclusive high-class groups from
Europe. At this stage Puerto de la Cruz was a leading cultural center
accommodating many travellers and writers, including William Wilde and
Alexander von Humboldt Olivia Stone . Puerto de la Cruz therefore gained an
illustrious reputation in Europe, and when it came to the subsequent advent of
modern tourism, the city was at an advantage compared with other tourist
sites. History
The city's origins date back to the early 16th century. It existed in 1502
as a coastal port, and as the dependent population center of La Orotava. In 1603
a church and its corresponding square were built.
It was originally a fishing village that grew as local trade was increasing. The
port became the most important in the island when a volcano eruption destroyed
Garachico in 1706. The sugar trade gave way to wine, resulting in large scale
social and economic development. In the mid-17th century the inhabitants
began to express their desire to form their own community, receiving the Royal
Provision of Felipe IV on 3 May 1651, which empowered them to appoint a
village head. It belonged to the municipality of La
Orotava, and in 1772, a municipal corporation was elected by the
residents. It was known as Puerto de La Orotava, and it was not until 1808 that
it obtained full municipal autonomy, changing its name to the current Puerto
de la Cruz. Tourism began to have an important role
in the local economy in the late 19th century. It was in those years that the
Grand Hotel Taoro was built and that old family houses began to be remodelled,
for example as Marquesa or Monopol, transforming them into the first hotels
in the city center. Finally, the real tourism boom came in the 1950s, when the
city began its transformation into the tourist reference point of the island
and of the archipelago. During the second edition of the
Ecological Film Festival of Nature in Puerto de la Cruz, at which guests were
invited to give lectures and provide round tables, the Tenerife Manifesto was
announced. This text was a precursor of political ecology in Spain, and would
initiate a process leading to the founding of the political party of the
Greens. Climate
Sites of interest Martiánez Pools completed and designed
by the famous Canary architect César Manrique.
Jardín Beach in Puerto de la Cruz, a famous beach filled with palm trees and
hotels. Plaza del Charco, in the town centre.
Loro Parque, a famous park and zoo located on the outskirts of the city.
Ermita de San Amaro, dedicated to the semi-legendary Saint Amaro.
Archaeological Museum of Puerto de la Cruz, with important pieces of
prehistory of the island, which also houses the idol Guanche, called
Guatimac. Anglican Church of Puerto de la Cruz The
Church of All Saints, located within the Taoro Park, was built by British
residents in the city. Puerto de la Cruz has the oldest Anglican cemetery in the
Canary Islands. Church of Nuestra Señora de la Peña de
Francia, located in the town centre. Botanical Garden in the El Botánico
district, opened in 1788, it's the second-oldest Botanical garden in Spain.
Castillo San Felipe, a small stone castle next to Playa Jardín.
La Ranilla, a fisherman's neighborhood. Tourism
Tourism is an important industry in Puerto de la Cruz, as evidenced by the
number of large hotels visible on the skyline.
Puerto de la Cruz is frequented by Northern Europeans during the winter
months, due to its mild climate, and is particularly popular over Christmas and
the New Year periods. The Western European tourist contingent
to Puerto de la Cruz tends to consist more of mature couples, in contrast to
resorts such as Playa de las Americas. The summer months see more Spanish
tourists, particularly during August, when conditions on the Spanish mainland
can be excessively hot. Events
The Tenerife Airshow is held every year near the harbour, usually in Europa
Square. The airshow celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2006.
El Carnaval, held every year. Ash Wednesday is in the middle of Carnival.
"La Embarcacion de la Virgen del Carmen", is held on 16 July. In latter
years it has become "la Fiesta del Agua", where copious amounts of water
are thrown during the festivities. It is preceded by "La Sardinada", where
sardines are fried and sold the night before at San Telmo. Hundreds of people
congregate in Charco Square and its fishing port, where festival goers
participate in games, like the popular 'run-along-the grease-pole', which
involves participants having to run along a greased pole and catch a flag to
win the game. Because of the normally mild July weather, people go in T-shirt
and shorts, or just bathing suits, and enjoy a quick dip in the waters of the
port to help cool themselves down. The event starts around 12-1 o'clock in the
afternoon and lasts until around 10–12 o'clock at night.
A few days before the main carnival procession a large papier mache sardine
is wheeled through the streets, brought to the waterfront and "blessed" with
"holy water" by a man dressed as a Bishop. The sardine is then set alight,
to huge applause. After this, a huge firework display ensues. The event is
known as the "Burial of the Sardine". Amongst the crowd at this event,
"professional mourners" can be seen; these are invariably men in drag, who
wail for comic effect. Although the Burial of the Sardine
rarely starts on time, the event always attracts crowds, and it is advised to
arrive early at the harbour. Photos
People Tomás de Iriarte, poet
Agustín de Betancourt, engineer Agustín Espinosa, poet
Tom Hernández, actor Domingo Vega de la Rosa, a painter of
the movement: surrealism Andi Deris, a German singer
Michael Weikath, a German musician Michael Hennet Sotomayor, known as
Mikel, singer, member of the Spanish band D'NASH
Sisters cities Almuñécar, Spain
Düsseldorf, Germany Martinsicuro, Italia, Italy
Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela See also
List of municipalities in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
References External links
Puerto de la Cruz at DMOZ Web: www.puertodelacruz.es
Web-news: www.puertodelacruz.com