San Cristobal de La Laguna, the main city in north Tenerife, is generally referred to as La Laguna. It derives its name from a large lagoon that suffered a size reduction due to the logging industry and was finally drained in 1837. La Laguna was the capital of Tenerife until 1723. Nestled in the beautiful Aguere Valley, this historic gem is surrounded by lush green hills and farmland
La Laguna has what is probably the most ideal temperature range you’ll ever find; in summer the maximum is 70° and in winter it seldom dips below 55°. It’s as if the city enjoys springtime all year! And thanks to losing its status as the island’s capital the city retains its old world charm and architecture, mixing the old with the new.
This was the first city in the world built on a geometric grid; you’ll find it very easy to navigate by foot, taxi, bikes or rental car. There is a tram line linking the city to Santa Cruz, just a few miles away, if you want to spend part of a day there.
La Laguna’s local tourist office provides free guided tours, which would be a good place to start when you visit. You’ll get to see the main sights and pick out the ones that you want to investigate in more detail. Such an approach actually saves you a lot of time—and it’s free! You’ll notice that several streets of historical significance are closed to motor traffic so you can stroll freely and safely.
La Laguna is known as the cultural and religious center of the Canary Islands. You’ll notice many old churches on your tour through the city, all of them worth a second look. These and other aspects of the city resulted in its being declared a World Heritage Site in 1999. The most famous churches are The Cathedral, the Santo Domingo Church and the Church of Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion. The latter has a magnificent Mudejar carved wood ceiling and a Baroque wooden pulpit form the 18th century. It is the oldest church on the island and officially a Spanish national shrine. Another must-see is the Convent of Santa Catalina, built in 1611. Although very austere on the outside, the interior is stunning.
The recently restored bishop’s palace, Casa de Salazar, is another sight worth seeing. Built in 1681, it is said to be the finest architecture of the Canary Islands. The interior was destroyed by a fire in 2006 but has been rebuilt as faithfully as possible to the original layout, built around a patio whose pillars supported its soaring galleries.
La Laguna is also home to San Fernando University. The 30,000 students lend the city vibrancy and diversity. With all this youth as residents the night life is predictably unpredictable. The university zone has one of the best nightlife scenes on the island with more than 100 bars and pubs jammed together in a zone called “cuadrilatero”. There are other discos and lounges in the city but nowhere will you find such riotous partying.
Near the university is Parque de los Dragos, a beautiful park with an astounding collection of dragon trees, the official symbol of the island and a main player in its legends.
Those who enjoy museums have a good variety here in La Laguna. There is the Casa Ossuna Museum, Friends of the Country Economic Society Museum, Concepcion Church’s Museum and the Cathedral’s Museum. The Historical and Anthropology museum is great if you want to learn a thorough history of the island and its inhabitants; it is housed in the lovely old mansion Casa Lercaro, a 16th century colonial that houses displays of documents, maps, tools, maritime exhibits and Lercaro family artifacts. There are also a fair number of 16th century paintings.
The Cosmos and Science Museum specializes in hands-on exhibits and is known for its excellent planetarium. There you can learn about the human body, man’s relationship with the earth and the earth’s with the universe. You can even take a lie detector test.
And then there are all the physical activities you can do! The Anaga Mountains that surround the city are a hiker’s haven with paths ranging from easy to extremely difficult. Or you can visit the Arenisco beach with its black volcanic sand and moderate waves that make it ideal for swimming, surfing, snorkeling and fishing. There is also a campsite at the beach if you’d like to drift off to sleep listening to the music of the water.
There are festivals, a casino, live theatre and much more to see and experience in La Laguna. The city truly is the gem of the Canary Islands.