La Orotava is one of those places whose visit is mandatory if you are going to come to Tenerife, since you will hardly find on the island a town with as much charm as this one. If you also decide to stay in our apartments in Puerto de la Cruz, you are in luck, because it is very close and you can easily walk through its streets and enjoy the charm of its people.
This municipality of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has a population of approximately 42,000 inhabitants, with a population density of 200 inhabitants per square kilometer, and although the origin of its name is not known with certainty, it is believed that it comes from the demographic situation of the municipality in the time of the Guanches, the Canarian aborigines who formerly inhabited the islands, and would be a word composed of “arrau” (boy) and “aba” (not having or not existing).
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Religious buildings
In the town of La Orotava there are a lot of religious buildings that are worth visiting, among which we highlight the Church of La Concepción or the church of the former convent of San Agustín.
Church of La Concepción
The Church of La Concepción, built around the year 1768, is a baroque church, also known as the Basilica or Cathedral of La Orotava due to its magnificence and grandeur, whose most characteristic element is the dome. The Church of La Concepción is a National Historic and Artistic Monument since June 1948.
It did not always have its current majesty, since until the 16th century the side chapels were not added. However, in the 18th century, specifically in the year 1704, due to several earthquakes that took place in the area before the eruption of the Güímar volcano, significant damage was caused to the Church, which subsequently worsened and after several decades of deterioration were corrected.
In 1768 the old parish was completely demolished and the new temple was born at the end of the 18th century. It was in the following century, when its interior was adapted to the prevailing trends and styles in Europe.
Church and former convent of San Agustín
The founding of this church was run by a powerful society known as the Hermandad de las Doce Casas, which was made up of powerful and wealthy families, the most influential in the municipality. Since its inception, it served as a meeting place to address public issues, since at this time there was no town council.
Other places to visit in La Orotava
Not all buildings are religious, La Orotava has much more to know.
Casa de los Balcones (House of the Balconies)
The Casa de los Balcones was built in 1632, a very charming and characteristic house for the lower carved wooden patio and for its typical Canarian balconies of course. Inside you can find a craft training and dissemination centre. Just in front of the Casa de Los Balcones you can also enjoy the Museum of Carpets, where you can learn the history of flower carpets, one of the most typical traditions of the municipality that we will talk about later.
Route of the mills
The high abundance of water the valley of La Orotava had led to the construction of numerous mills, especially after the conquest of the islands. There were a total of twelve mills, although currently there are 10 standing, of which only 2 remain open.
Liceo de Taoro
It is an urban palace that is currently the headquarters of this cultural entity.
Town Council of La Orotava
A stately and worthy building, as well as the square in front of it, in one of the nerve centers of La Orotava. It is located in the area formerly occupied by an old convent founded in 1601.
Important events and festivities of La Orotava
If you coincide with some of the most traditional festivities of the municipality, your visit to La Orotava will be even more memorable.
Tapestries and carpets from La Orotava
This is undoubtedly the most famous event in La Orotava and in which many of the tourists are fascinated. It is an emblematic and cultural event that takes place on the Thursday after Corpus Christi Sunday, in which the streets are decorated with carpets and tapestries made with flowers, earth and sand, which create figures and forms particularly with religious motifs. If you are in Puerto de la Cruz or on the island of Tenerife at this time, do not hesitate to visit La Orotava since it is an experience worth living.
Baile de magos and Romería (procession) of La Orotava
Like all the municipalities of the island of Tenerife, La Orotava also has its own baile de magos and procession, which is usually held at the end of May or the beginning of June. A perfect opportunity to know the most typical festivities of the place, mix with the inhabitants of the area and learn more about its gastronomy and the charm of its people. Ideally, you should go with the typical Canarian costume to these events, but do not worry if you have no chance of getting one.
Christmas in La Orotava
If La Orotava is already a charming town, if you visit it at Christmas time, your walk will be even more pleasant. La Orotava welcomes the Christmas spirit in all its splendor since the beginning of December, with a very meticulous public lighting and a traditional nativity scene that you can see in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Another important date is the Three Kings Parade celebrated on January 5.
What are you waiting for to visit La Orotava?
We hope that after having told you all you can find in La Orotava, you are already making preparations to pay a visit to this incredible municipality with so many things to discover, but especially its wonderful people who will welcome you with open arms, no matter where you are from.
