History Tenerife Santa Cruz capital in a nutshell.

History Tenerife Santa Cruz is the history of the capital of the biggest of all Canary Islands which is also relevant to the whole island's history as well as of that of motherland Spain.

A cross officially marked new territory for the Pope's missionaries as well as the taking of an island:

Now, this cross is under museum glass by the main altar of the Santa Cruz cathedral as the locals lovingly call their oldest church Iglesia Parroquia Matríz de Nuestra Señora de Concepción, the Tuscan tower of which is depicted beside.

At that time, the region was still called Añazo which was one of the chiefdoms of the Guanches.

By the way, the small beach Playa Añazo which carries the same name also made history during the Tenerife attack by Admiral Nelson.

The battles of Acentejo Tenerife.

Click the photo to enlarge it and read Batalla de Acentejo on the top of the painting. The details show an almost peaceful landscape with Guanches and Spanish soldiers on foot.

This work of art seems to represent the first battle (Matanza de Acentejo) between the Adelentado De Lugo's troups and the Guanches in May 1494 when Spain lost. They conquered the natives when horses were brought in from Gran Canaria, later on.

Only scientifically proven Guanche fact:

Many a Guanche was almost 2 meters tall, as depicted beside. This is also a Cro Magnum characteristic.

By the way, the well known mummy of San Andres has been

scientifically identified, as of the Cro Magnum period.

The inhabitants of Atlantis are said to have belonged to that time.

Also, history tells that the Atlantides people were as tall as six foot. Therefore this fact and other historic bits and peaces link Tenerife' aborigines with Atlantis.

Atlantis Guanche link controversy

Judge for yourself if you find Guanche cavemen culture links to Atlantis... The Guanches were advanced in astrology and some other fields, while their fertility goddess Chaxiraxi was worthy to be associated with the Black Madonna and became an almost international icon.

Please note: The name Tenerife does not come from its island's Guanches but from neighbouring La Palma despite rumours of a Guanche Mencey by that name.

The name Tenerife or Tene ife:

History Tenerife Santa Cruz and the Adelantado de Lugo:

The first battle against the Guanches was lost to the Spanish commander's dismay, however.

Only, when he came back, a year later, with full horse power after collecting new funds, could he succeed.

Also, the lack of immunity against sort of a flue which was introduced by the army and caused havoc in the small Guanche population helped with the conquest.

More on details about the conquest by Wikipedia...

La Laguna first capital:

History Tenerife of the capital tells us that La Laguna (San Christóbal de la Laguna) was De Lugo's first choice for seat of government. Besides, the location was almost flanked by the Mercedes forests nearby. There, children and women could hide in case of a pirate assault.

A Guanche threat seemed to count less. Also, the Bay, where the Santa Cruz (the holy cross) had been erected was ideal for a nearby port.

Thirdly, La Laguna had beautiful landscapes around its lagoon (la laguna) in Aguere Valley which belonged to its former Guanche province. The lake has long since dried up.

Town grid design made history:

The threat of pirates:

The first capital building erected very soon must have been the Santa Cruz fortress which is still to be seen at Tenerife Parque Maritimo Cesar Manrique(Maritim Park César Manrique).

It, of course, also served well to fend off pirates whose goal was not only the capturing of slaves. They used to lurk around not far from the town sea side shores.

Santa Cruz pirate bay town and Fort San Andres:

History of environment issues San Andres Teresitas:

Pirates of different nationalities, creed and class were a threat for a long time for the whole island during the course of its growing.

This applied to the history Tenerife Santa Cruz and at some stage Garachico and Puerto de la Cruz, as well.

Historic Importance of Santa Cruz harbor for ocean routes:

The position of the harbor near la Laguna was much envied by Great Britain as well as by the Dutch which were both sea faring nations.

Did General Franco act like a pirate?

However, all Tenerife rebels of the island's military which revolted agains the general from mainland Spain felt so, certainly.

Indeed, Franco managed to grab Tenerife for Spain and his own ideas, later on in more modern days.

Santa Cruz port which later became a Free Port has always been one of Europe's best. Also, it offered good bunking facilities for ocean routes to the much searched for El Dorado for gold, spices, slaves, precious timber and other commodities, much wanted at the time.

History Tenerife linked with history Portugal and Spain:

In the meantime, the Portuguese under Vasco da Gama had set their eyes rather to the east in India, by the year 1498.

Also, Portugal's right to Tenerife during the reign of King Alfonso of Portugal and Queen Isabela of Castilla Spain which joint two countries by marriage (a very important fact to understand the history around the time of De Lugo) had been taken back by the pope who instead granted them the acquisition of the African Fez as well as Guinea.

Portugal could get fresh water and new provisions and above all salt from Isla do Sal (Island of Salt) from its Baltic Islands like Guinea Bissao which is off West Africa further down south from the Canary Islands. Hence, the Portuguese were no threat for Tenerife.

Please, note in the context of the discoveries of new sea routes at the time that those had only become possible in such extent after the invention of a new sailing method which was tried with the Portuguese Daus..

Now, it was finally possible to sail against the wind which became necessary from Guinea Bissao onwards for proceeding to the South. (This was very much emphasized by a history professor at Faculdad de Letras (university) in Lisbon in 1963 whose name I, unfortunately, forgot.)

By the way, only, Portuguese traders which were favored by Adelante de Lugo could prosper in Tenerife as reported by Santiago del Teide history Tenerife as well as by relevant surviving documents of Los Realejos archives.

Loss of Spanish Silver fleet:

The tide didn't keep admiral Blake from attacking and withdrawing, while Santa Cruzeros put all their might and imagination into defending their small town.

This incident is one of the most complicated of Tenerife history Santa Cruz and one of most talked about in the navy of those days.

Royal Navy Commander Admiral Robert Blake managed to sink each and every one of the silver caravelles by cunning maneuvre and shrewed strategy, almost like he did before in 1655 in Porto Farina. The Spanish Silver fleet lost 16 vessels. For some fortunate reason, the precious metal from the colonies was saved.

Never mind, Santa Cruz earned its first of 3 lion heads to ad to its historical emblem.

Britain losing the J. Gerings sea battle off Tenerife:

Port of Garachico destroyed by volcanic eruption:

This once principal Tenerife port was suffocated by lava. Consequently, Garachico lost its port traffic and main income to Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz. Yet, Santa Cruz always played the first fiddle for the incoming huge galeons from Spain's new colonies.

It remains to say also that the little harbor of Puerto de la Cruz which played its own role of Tenerife history Puerto de la Cruz was never competition for the history Santa Cruz of world trade.

By the way, the forts of Garachico and Puerto Cruz look different to the ones of Santa Cruz but also helped the island. Needless to say is that history Tenerife Santa Cruz with its capital profited by the smaller towns' artillery defenses indirectly.

Santa Cruz becomes Tenerife capital:

Admiral Nelson is defeated:

1797 History in Tenerife was made for the capital, the island as well as the whole Canary archipelago by the defeat of the famous British Admiral Nelson not only, when he lost his right arm, while trying to get onto shore.

This was also a triumph over Great Britain's Royal Navy.

Santa Cruz was proud to display 3 lions in its town history emblem after winning against the British commander in 1797. Nobody can take the lion icons away, contrary to sports trophies.

Victory over Nelson and the World soccer cup for Spain:

Defeating Horatio Nelson three times was as much a historical sensation for Spain and Europe in 1797 like the Spain Soccer victory of the South African world cup in 2010.

Both proudly earned achievements will be synonym to 'Viva España' for a long time to come.

New capital of 1821:

A long period of shifting offices and construction of new historic buildings as well as landmarks and monuments followed.

This town square is also called Plaza los Patos after its ducks (patos) in a small pond. This most enchanting small city oasis may help some of the elderly to forget the sorrows of wars.

The Chicarreros or Santacruceros, as the capital's inhabitants are called, always defended their island Tenerife by all means. Those who couldn't use canons and guns threw stones at invaders.

Here, we mustn't forgot that Santa Cruz was only a fishing community, until it took over capital rights from La Laguna.

The founding of the Free Port:

History Tenerife of the great depression:

Early, in the 20th century many of Santa Cruz inhabitants thought that there are greener pastures in Cuba and similar South American islands with which they had historical ties. The wish for emigration was caused by economic hardship resulting from ocean trade blockades already in world war 1 and later world War 2.

Besides, the capital had also lost its wine Exports to England, as Portuguese port wine was suddenly in high demand, there.

After General Franco's established power in the early Fifties many fled again but, this time to Venezuela, Germany and France which had started a boom called Wirtschaftswunder.(miracle of economy) Coming to think of such emigration: It's rather peculiar how many of the former emigrants came back and speak German with a typical dialect only.

One would think that a remote tiny island would have been safe from the turmoil of the big wars and from mainland politics. However, shipping was the capital's 2nd biggest bread winner which had then fallen away. Also, Tenerife Santa Cruz enjoyed much less autonomy than than it would have liked to have.

History Tenerife Santa Cruz and General Franco:

The biggest of all Canary islands and the capital were where Franco plotted his military take over of Spain.

Consequently, many liberal thinkers of the biggest Canary Island were severely prosecuted by the later dictator Franco who was a great fan of Hitler and his 'black National Socialist' ideology.

The sad part of history Tenerife Santa Cruz is that many of its citizen who perished for the freedom of their island could not forgive the stern military man Franco.

Later, this right wing general moved over to Morocco from where he concluded a successful revolt with German planes against the Spanish regime to take over political power of all Spanish territories, while Tenerife was the first which was sacked..

Name change to Rambla Santa Cruz:

The most beautiful of all Santa Cruz Avenues displays some of at least 60 good works of street art together with the adjoining Park Parque Garcia Sanabria. The Henry Moore's Goslar warrier is one of its sleeker monuments which may just as well be a tribute to Santa Cruz warriors. Now this famous Rambla changed names. It went from Rambla del General Castro to Rambla Santa Cruz.

This Henry Moore bronze was bought during a first Tenerife international historical sculpture exhibition in 1973. This is a celebration of Santa Cruz history and its people.

Street art Santa Cruz exhibited permanently on such a scale is historically memorable in Europe.

The Rambla Santa Cruz photo beside has a monument in the background which faces the street which was named after the famous Tenerife historian Viera y Clavijo. The monument honours 2nd World War victims of Tenerife Spain and is dated 05,01,1915.

History Tenerife Santa Cruz and men like Viera y Clavijo

However, the poet, scientist and historian Viera y Clavijo who spent most of his life in La Laguna and in today's capital is remembered more than once in Santa Cruz for the sake of history and remarkable citizen.

History Tenerife Santa Cruz of the great exodus:

Franco as well as the ongoing economic depression were reason for the fleeing from the capital and other towns of the island. The historical number of Tenerife fugitive emigrants is 16000. A third of them perrished on the way to America. Boats were just as overloaded as the ones that would hit all Canary islands with economic fugitives coming from the neighboring continent with African people, later from the end of the 20th centuries onwards .

History Tenerife Santa Cruz of Tourism:

What is remarkable is that it was General Franco who created the foundation for the tourist boom for Tenerife which was to come.

General Franco had great insight in many a respect.

The early tourism, by the way, at the end of the XVIX century was also indirectly to the capital's benefit. Tourists in those days could only reach the island with passenger ships.

Taoro Park became the high light for Europe's Upper 10 000 shown by the very historical Taoro Hotel. Puerto de la Cruz had its cut as well as Los Gigantes.

Great men like Alexander von Humboldt left their influence at La Laguna university, departments of which are in Santa Cruz.

History Tenerife Santa Cruz by the end of the 20th century/beginning of 21 century:

Booming tourism with visitors from fancy ocean cruisers to Santa Cruz as well as by general holiday seekers from all over Europe coming with frequent cheap plane tours resulted in good employment for Tinerfeños. A construction boom for the holiday home in Tenerife followed suite.

Contemporary history to show for:

Hotel Quisisana reborn at Adeje coast by las Americas?

By the way, only a section of this grand hotel of the Tenerife capital could be caught on camera. Many magnificent, stately Tenerife houses, which are all mansions by the Rambla Santa Cruz are hiding much of Hotel Quisana. Shown are just a few buildings of many. They were all inhabited by worthy Quisisana neighbours, who were competing with each other with the most gracious living.

More infra structure needed for History Tenerife Santa Cruz:

New sea side resorts sprung up from 1990 onwards, such as Los Gigantes, Cuesta Adeje, Los Christianos and Playa (beach) de las Americas and golf resorts as far as El Medano.

Now, the unemployed from the capital are anxious to get there to work more easily. They are waiting for the new tram.

History Tenerife Santa Cruz and the EU:

Furthermore, subsidies from prospering mainland Spain and financial aid from Bruxelles EU since the adding of Spain into the European Union helped Santa Cruz to move into a better future.

Much immigration came from Europe where the amount of people from eastern countries seeking employment in the sun is remarkable. The tragedy is however that the ecologically vulnerable island has neither the space nor facilities to incorporate that many new-comers.

History Tenerife Santa Cruz, recession and carnival:

The Santa Cruz Tenerife Carnival which has made history for its town as well as for its island has not been cutting back much since the recession of 2009 and beyond.

History Tenerife Santa Cruz by evolving city:

The changing looks of a city may make history because of changing socio economic surcumtances.

Today in 2008 La Laguna, Tegueste, Candelaria and El Rosario have all grown into each other and form a municipal unity with the capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Santa Cruz has become a Tenerife city . Many shopping centers and industrial areas have filled up the spaces, once in between.

Is Tenerife a left over from the fabulous island Atlantis?

Other historical sites including history and legends:

Here, is a legend connected to history in relation to the volcanic destruction of the port of Garachico.

History Los Gigantes which is remarkable due to British tourism which gave the once sleepy fishing town a totally new face and importance.

Spain history contribution by Los Realejos in 1496.

Tenerife history Puerto de la Cruz.

Tenerife business with ancient history of el Monasterio which is almost a brand name as well as a shrewed monk who made it famous a long time ago.

From history Tenerife Santa Cruz to the capital Santa Cruz Tenerife.

History Tenerife and its culture in South America

Manpower and more was exported from Santa Cruz de Tenerife to countries, such as Venezuela and Peru, to name just a few. Colonial administrators who had been trained in the Tenerife capital made their way there and helped shape South American colonies.

An example is the culture of Peru with its history, art, cuisine, and attractions such as its architecture and carnivals - where the black Madonna Virgen de Candelaria Lima is just one of many very important links with Tenerife.

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