Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital of the island of Tenerife with more than 200,000 inhabitants, being also the capital of the province with the same name, as well as the autonomous community of the Canaries, sharing it together with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Below we will review some of the most important places to visit in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Historical heritage in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Castillo de San Cristóbal
To the San Cristobal Castle currently only belong some underground galleries located in the Plaza de España in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This castle was one of the first to be built of large dimensions in the city, back in 1575, and whose purpose was defensive.
Castillo de San Juan Bautista
This castle, built in 1641, is best known as the Black Castle of Santa Cruz. It is very close to the auditorium on a square that connects it with the Maritime Park of which we speak later.
This castle is also known to recreate annually in its vicinity the attempt of the British conquistadors to seize the power of the Canary Islands, which ended with a defeat of the English-speaking troops.
Iglesia Matriz de la Concepción
A picturesque church, located in the beautiful surroundings of Calle de la Noria, Its construction began in the early 16th century and it has the characteristic of being the only one on the Canaries with five ships.
Barrio del Toscal
El Barrio del Toscal is one of the most picturesque neighborhoods of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, with typical Canarian houses and with an abundance of historic buildings, which is why it was declared in 2007 as a Historic Artistic Site.
Mercado de Nuestra Señora de Africa
A point of great importance for the citizens of Santa Cruz de Tenerife because it is the place where the municipal market is located. In addition, festivals and leisure activities are being held inside. It was inaugurated in 1944 and is built in a neocolonial style of great beauty.
Parks and squares of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Parque García Sanabria
García Sanabria Park is the park par excellence of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, leisure and rest place for multiple citizens of the capital. It has an area of 67,000 square meters, where you can find a characteristic central fountain, an iconic flower clock built in Switzerland in 1958. As well as special places for the enjoyment of dogs, recreational areas and corners for the scientific dissemination of flora.
Plaza de España
Renovated a few years ago, the current Spanish Plaza consists of a huge lake with a fountain in the middle that operates in specific hours. The redesign of the Plaza de España was carried out by the Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, who gave it an important change to the initial design of the square, which was built in 1929.
As a curiosity to highlight: much of the recent film by Jason Bourne was filmed on the Plaza de España in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, although in the film represents the Syntagma Square in Athens
Plaza del Príncipe de Asturias
This is another of the iconic squares of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where many festive events take place. It takes on a special aspect in the dates of Carnival and Christmas where the public lighting embellishes it even more after sundown.
Plaza Weyler
One of the busiest places in Santa Cruz de Tenerif. It is the starting point of Calle Castillo, the historical commercial area of the capital, where a large number of shops are joined, apart from being one of the most important meeting point for citizens. It highlights its central fountain made of white Carrara marble.
Plaza de los patos or Plaza de 25 de julio
The Plaza de los Patos is located very close to the García Sanabria Park. It was built in commemoration of the failed attempt by the British Empire to conquer the Canary Islands. It is a small square, but not less beautiful. Here the main fountain with its eight frogs that surround it, in addition to the twenty benches from Seville, create a picturesque and beautiful image worth seeing.
Cultural Spaces in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Tenerife Espacio de las Artes
An architecture made by the same architects who remodeled the Plaza de España, avant-garde style. Here you can enjoy multiple art exhibitions, events of various kinds, and have a large library.
Auditorio de Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The auditorium of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has become one of the main icons of the city for its particular structure adjoining the sea. Here important international events such as the Fimucité International Film Music Festival are held, as well as theatrical performances and Musicals of great transcendence.
Teatro Guimerá
It is the oldest theater in the Canary Islands, opened in 1851, it carries out annually numerous theatrical and musical performances, as well as congresses of various kinds.
Pools and beaches in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
One of the main defects that Santa Cruz de Tenerife has, is that it does not have a beach in the same city, despite being adjacent to the sea, currently devoting most of the coast to the commercial docks. The only place to enjoy a pleasant swim is the Maritime Park of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.The large beach that is located closest is the Beach of Las Teresitas in the village of San Andrés, about 8 kilometers from the center of the city.
Many more things to know in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and on the whole island
This list includes only some of the most important places of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, a city bordering San Cristóbal de La Laguna and 30 minutes by car from another of the most important cities of the island, Puerto de la Cruz, where our newly renovated Ambassador Apartments are located.
If you want to know more about the most important places to visit in the north of Tenerife, you can continue browsing our blog. And we invite you if you are planning a trip to the island: consider the option to stay in Puerto de la Cruz and in our apartments. Book now and live all the experiences that the island of Tenerife offers you. We will wait for you!
