Casa del Patio's Tenerife history tourist attraction for 'mega bucks' if true...

Casa del Patio close to Los Gigantes has much history to tell. It may also be regarded as a finca (farm) museum in Tenerife.

This farmstead with its large manor is in today's district of Santiago del Teide by town Santiago del Teide.

Los Gigantes, Puerto de Santiago and La Arena are part of this county by the Teno mountain range.

Old Teno farmlands Tenerife estate to be restored to be museum:

I Possibly, it will portray half as many tears and, hardships which were caused by feudalism during that time of the island's history, once fully renovated.

The architecture also shows how farm life might have been over the last 300 years after taking over from the Guanche leader Mencey (Diaz) Pelinor de Adeje.

By the looks of an old photo which I've seen the old manor was already in shambles by early 1930.

What history tells of its founder:

On 3rd of July 1663 Fernando de Hoyo y Solórzano became Lord of the manor of 27,000 square meters of land for 3200 silver ducats.

He paid to the Royal House of Spain through the ex military leader who had become governor of the district Santiago (del Teide). The governor and the new landlord had family connections..

The family de Hoyo y Solórzano Lords of Casa del Patio from there on exercised feudal law in their land of 27 000 m2 for a very long time.

A real community was born by Casa del Patio:

As reported by www.infocan-aria.com in Spanish a church parish came into being on Sept.9th 1679

The Bishop Bartolomé Garcia Jimenez saw to this within an area which was sparsely populated and had little water nearby until much later by 1950.

Don Fernando de Hoyo de Solórzan agreed to built the church San Fernando Rey ( King) which was to incorporate the Ermita de Santiago apostle which was, basically, a chapel.

It was a very special chapel. Why? It is said to have protected all people at Casa del Patio as well.

A mission station dating back to the independent days of the Guanches which was initially run by Portuguese monks also existed there which must have been important for the poor within farming communities such as the one that belonged to Don Fernando.

In 1812 a new era of Tenerife history started:

Please, read up on the history of the province and county of the old manor which was also significant for Casa del Patio in Los Gigantes history.

Also important for the old manor were later times reported in Santa Cruz history which was relevant for the whole of Tenerife.

In 2003, plans got under way to restore the old manor.

Costs would amount to close to EU 5,5 000 000.

From what I've heard restoration of the old mansion farmstead is well under way (now being year 2008).

When we look at Casa del Patio in its present condition we still notice how different it was compared to Finca Villa Abaco which is already a museum in the oldest resort of the island.

The many buildings of the Santiago del Teide farmstead are much more geared towards agriculture and the running of the farm whereas Abaco is not featuring that but, the socializing in a circle of the rich and famous during 18th century Puerto de la Cruz which was much different during its history.

Both farmsteads are historically valuable, though. Every century has its particularities and we should be careful to judge if what happened was right or wrong.

Of course, we may learn from it adapting it to present times where much happens that later generations might be inclined to see with a very critical mind.

What is very interesting, however, will be to see the history of a large part of Tenerife which is partly still very much a farming community like the one by Casa del Patio.

To see how farmers today are faring with subsidies and neighboring tourism is one aspect one may look at.

One should never judge the past too harshly:

Perhaps, wildfires in and around this farm which is close to the capital of the West Coast county were fought a little differently in the past during feudalism. But, lets face it that even then survival and well being of farm workers surely was also important for the feudal owner like Lord Hoyo y Solórzano.

The landlord of Casa del Patio could not afford to lose workers due to fire while they could not stand around idle watching flames engulf their bread and butter. No matter how little of it they had 'one hand had to wash the other'.

History of a monk at El Monasterio in the north of the island tells us of many generously giving farmers towards the building of a church. Those must have been feudal lords like Don Hoyo y Solórzano in the first place but, the poor dependents which might have very well been from Casa del Patio as well surely also made their meager contributions to buy themselves a little peace of paradise for their 'after-life.

Living in and around the Santiago del Teide manor compared to city living:

When staying in Africa or India somewhere in farming communities I had to notice that people that live under conditions we call deplorable show more happy faces in every day life than most people in big cities or in industrial settlements.

We forget how any work in fresh air is also so much more healthy.

Therefore, no matter what sharp tongues might say about the early days of Casa del Patio lets face it that the people who had to get permission from their landlord to marry might not have been that badly off.

How, many do run away from the country nowadays to look for greener pastures in the city only realize much later in life what big mistake they have made in doing so?

This is a modern problem, of course. But, lets look at Casa del Patio from all social aspects. Feudalism was, of course, not ideal because, it deprived people of freedom.

Nevertheless, again we should ask ourselves how much freedom is worth when we starve and suffer of diseases like aids which we might be less likely catch in a community of freedom restricting farming which happened in the past and is still happening today in our world.

Let me hope that also advantages of the olden days of the ancient farm by Santiago del Teide will be emphasized by this museum which will open its doors, sometime in the near future.

News:

Today, I stumbled upon some news on Casa del Patio now known as Hotel Señorio del Valle in the town Santiago del Teide.The Spanish newspaper El dia says in its revised edition 29th July 2008 that the company Alberga Hoteles hasn't put up the Fianza which is a trust fond in this particular case to 'administrate' and proceed with renovations (obras) at Casa del Patio. All this has been criticized, recently, by the PSC (Socialist Party Canaria) at Santiago del Teide Town Hall.

Other farmsteads with history such as the feudal manor by Santiago del Teide.:

Farmstead de Castro by hiking path Rambla de Castro San Pedro near the old ruin is also being renovated.
to be a museum for Tenerife. Lets see how it will compare with Casa del Patio.

El Monasterio was once an ancient farmstead and is now a theme park which also always had an indoor yard just like Casa del Patio.

Finca Museum of the Wine Casa Baranda (Casa del Vino) is an old red painted farmstead by el Sauzal Tenerife North.

Please, go from Tenerife history Casa del Patio to Homepage.