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Dear Alice, Just to let you know we are ok. Had to wait 4 hours at Gatwick Airport, so may not be back before Sunday dinner time. They say it's all to do with the mist over the craters. Will you save this card for when we return. It's our Hotel and X marks our room. It's right on the sea front. Bit dissappointing as it's all rocks. We do our sunbathing on the roof. Love Daisy Les x' (Postcard from Puerto de la Cruz to the UK, dated 2nd July 1958).
A history of holidaymaking to Tenerife beginning from the late 1950s by not just UK holidaymakers, but Germans and many other Europeans would go down very well, say with a little museum on working class cheap and cheerful package holidays to Tenerife located in Los Cristianos or indeed Puerto de la Cruz. There's an idea for the Arona or Orotava Valley Cabildo! Anyway, back to what's on offer history and culture wise in Tenerife! For top cultural hotspots on the island, offering a mix of traditional Canarian architecture, some excellent museums (one of the best which explores the pre-hispanic history of the Guanches on the Canary Islands is the Man & Nature Museum in Santa Cruz), some choice art galleries with a focus on Canarian Art and museums focusing on rural and agricultural history head to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, San Cristobal de la Laguna, La Orotava and Puerto de la Cruz. But history is all around you really - British Holiday makers have been coming to Tenerife since the beginnings of the tourist boom in the late 1950s.
The hub of Tenerife's cultural scene, including the best art galleries, museums exploring Guanche pre-hispanic settlement and religious history museums are to be found in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Puerto de la Cruz, La Laguna, La Orotava and for geological and volcanic history of the Canary Islands, including of course Teide and Tenerife head for the two excellent educational visitors centres in the Teide National Park. A new tram line is currently being built (as of 2006) in Santa Cruz the capital. Eventually the tram will connect with Adjede down in south Tenerife, make it quick and easy for cultural day trips to Santa Cruz.
The Museum of Man and Nature in Santa Cruz (Calle Fuente Morales s/n, Santa Cruz. Tel: 922 20 93 20) is a big affair, and a must visit on your tour of Guanche sites and history on the Canary Islands. Like the Museo Canario in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, this museum lays bare the archeological finds from pre-hispanic settlement sites on Tenerife and elsewhere in the Canaries. It also explores indepth the flaura and forna of the Canary Islands, with exhibits and information on numerous geologists, naturalists and archeologists who have come to Tenerife over the years. Checkout the weblink right for more details. Written guides in English are provided throughout the museum.
More superb museums in Santa Cruz include the Museo de Bellas Artes (Municipal Museum of Fine Arts) (Calle Jose Murphy 12, Santa Cruz. Tel: 922 24 43 58). Free Entrance! Of particular interest here is the depiction of the landing of Spanish conquerors on the beaches of Anazo, with a rather eccentric looking Alonso Fernandez de Lugo standing by his giant wooden cross. The painting is by Gumersindo Robayna Lazo and dates from 1494 and is typical of smug colonialist art - we see the same image elsewhere in depictions of movement west crushing Native Americans or indeed on the pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock. In this painting a Guanche warrior crouches behind a cactus looking on to the pomp and circumstance of de Lugo's landing - crouched and submissive. Catholicism and military might have arrived. Not quite the true picture though - Guanche resistance on Tenerife particularly was relentless and fearsome.
Also in Santa Cruz is the Regional Military Museum, c/San Isidro, 1 (Castillo de Almeida), Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Tel: 922 843 500. Open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 2pm (free admission). In Puerto de la Cruz checkout the Museo Arqueologico (Archeological Museum) Calle Lomo 9, Puerto de la Cruz. Tel 922 53 58 16. There's a good exhibition on Guanche artefacts here. In La Oratava visit the Museo de Ceramica on Calle Leon (tel. 922 32 14 47. open 10am to 6pm Mon to Sat, 10am to 2pm on Sun). Also in La Oratava is the Museo de Artesania Iberoamericana (Iberoamerican Handicrafts Museum). on Calle Tomas Zerolo, Tel: 922 32 17. open from 9.30am to 6pm Mon to Fri, and 9.30am to 2pm on Sat. There's also a gofio mill just outside La Oratava. Checkout the historic Canarian architecture too in captivating La Laguna. The Tenerife museum is also here on Calle Via Lactea s/n. Tel: 922 31 52 65.
Moving around Tenerife on the cultural tourism tour, there are a number of cultural centres and rural museums to visit, mostly to the north of the island, but not all. Here's a selection of a few of the best on Tenerife:
The Pyramids of Guimar, Calle Chacona, s/n, 38500 Guimar, Tenerife. Tel: 922 510. Open from 9.30am to 6pm. These prehistoric pyramids bear a strong resemblance to similar pyramids found in Mexico and Peru. Find out more in the Guimar Pyramids weblink to the right.
Museo de Historia de Tenerife, Casa Lercaro, c/San Agustin, 22, 38201 San Cristobal de La Laguna. Tel: 922 82 59 49/43. Open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 7pm, closed on Mondays. Located in cultural centre La Laguna in north Tenerife (the one time capital of the island), this museum gives an overview of social, cultural and econmic development from the 15th century. It's particularly interesting for exploring the development of the Spanish colonialists post-conquest.
Museo de Antropologia de Tenerife, Carretera Tacoronte, Valle de Guerra, s/n, 38270 Valle de Guerra, San Cristobal de la Laguna. Tel: 922 54 63 00. Also in La Laguna, this museums is an 18th century Canarian mansion looks at popular culture, with a nod to rural and agricultural history too. On display are allotments, gardens, a wine press and a mill. Also in La Laguna check out the Museo de la Ciencia y El Cosmos, Calle Via Lactea, s/n, 38200 San Cristobal de la Laguna.Tenerife, Tel: 922 31 52 65. In partnership wit the Canary islands Institute of Astrophysics, the Science and Cosmos Museum has numerous scientific exhibitions plus a planatarium on-site. (if you really want to see the stars - head over to La Palma for some of the best star gazing opportunities on the planet!)
Add to your Tenerife Museums the Centro de Fotografia, Plaza Isla de la Madera s/n. Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Tel: 922 29 07 35. It's free to enter this museum to view contemporary photographic art - well worth a look.
Also, Puerto de la Cruz has a gem up it's sleeve. The Museo Arqueologico, Calle Lomo 9, Puerto de la Cruz. Tel: 922 53 58 16. This museum has a fine collection of Guanche artefacts, as well as ceramics and various maps.
The north easterly area of Tenerife is renowned for it's wines, and reference to the quality of wines produced in this region has come from some rather prestigious names, including Shakespeare and Sit Walter Scott.
Well worth a visit is the La Baranda Wine Museum in El Sauzal, North Tenerife. As well as the Tenerife wine museum here, there's a tasting room and a programme of cultural events including classical concerts and talks on wine.
La Baranda Wine Museum, Casa Museo Insular de la Vid y el Vino de Tenerife, Autopista Gra. Del Norte. Km 21, (El Sauzal exit), 38360 El Sauzal. Tel 922 572535 / 922 572542 (Restaurant) 922 563388.
Guided walks are becoming particularly popular not just around the Teide National Park, but also around the Masca area of the Teno Mountains to the North West of Tenerife. Masca and the Teno Mountains are within easy reach of Tenerife's west side resorts including Los Gigantes, Playa de la Arena and Puerto de Santiago.
Many choose to take the boat trip from Los Gigantes harbour, passing the stunning Los Gigantes cliffs on the water (one of the best ways to see this stunning Tenerife natural phenomena), then you're dropped off on the Masca coast for walks.
A choice of walks and activities are offered including:
A walk to the top of Mount Teide. Walk to the luna landscape above Vilaflor. Walk to the lost village Las Fuentes (combines walking and a jeep trip). Individual walks of your choice. Day trip to La Gomera - walks in Garajonay National Park. These walks, including the day trip and walking in Masca is offered by Sun Holidays, Tel: +34 609 166 850. There's leaflets can be found in most accommodation in the western resorts.
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