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History Tenerife is not everything that has been written down.History Tenerife tells the following story about an event that took place in 1706. It was the time of the Trevejo mount Teide eruption. The Trevejo is beside Tenerife mount Teide that is often called the black mountain ( Montaña negra). It started spitting fire and enormous amounts of lava in the early hours of May 5th.
By Tenerife history that was written down we know that lava started pouring down from the mountains above Garachico. It destroyed the rich town and its port that was the most important for Tenerife trade in that period.It's said that people had enough time to get away safely. This biggest Tenerife volcanic eruption went on for 40 days. A legend on the history in Tenerife told by the elderly people in North Tenerife reports that Garachico inhabitants without family The gorge belongs to a suburb of Los Realejos called Romantica 1 10 driving minutes from Puerto de la Cruz in the north of Tenerife. It's said that many stayed on in a tall ruin which is still there. Once, it must have been a handsome Roman building.
The ruin Los Realejos in this awesome place could have been a small church or a large chapel. The mural at the end of the open building is faded out but, still visible. It´s simply a little detail of History Tenerife. The lush gorge is used by local shepherds to graze their goats. Possibly, the Garachico fugitives brought goats with them.
Well preserved stone steps wind deep down to the roofless ruin. History of Tenerife seldom reports on dilapidated buildings. But this structure must have saved lives. A fountain next to it still provides water, today. In fact a new water house in its place has been built by the municipality to honor the location. A lovely viewpoint above this Tenerife ruin of Los Realejos leads our eyes along the rugged green coast as far as San Juan de la Rambla.
Here, one more time a better view of the coast in Tenerife North towards San Juan de la Rambla. Battle of Acentejo and Mencey (King) Bentor:Before the Spaniards arrived at Tinerfe (Tenerife) the island was inhabited by the Guanches. History Tenerife tells that Mencey (King) Bentor of the Guanches son of Mencey Bencomo who lost his life at the great battle of Acentejo in the 2nd war of the conquest in 1496 again under Alonso Fernández de Lugo had taken over from his father and retreated with the allies of all his 5 chiefdoms to his own main at la Orotava Valley Taoro. De Lugo and his troops with the dreaded cavalry went in pursuit. The whole of the area Los Realejos (little camps)is said to have been swarmed by Spanish soldiers. It came to the last battle. The Guanches defeated themselves very bravely with huge shields, sticks and stones. However, history also reports that many Guanches had died of illness or, were frail at that time because, of a strange virus (?) the Spaniards had brought with them who in their turn were more immune. Spanish soldiers called it the Guanche drowsiness.
Annexation of Tenerife at Los Realejos:Los Realejos was the place where the Guanches were defeated and where the annexation of Tinerfe (Tenerife) to the Crown of Spain Queen Isabel and Don King Fernando was announced. The proclamation was repeated with much 'pathos' 3 times. Mencey Bentor dies at Tigaiga cliffs:Coming back to the spot on the photo I may remember that those show the cliffs of Tigaiga were Mencey (King) Bentor son of Mencey Bencomo threw himself into death in the sea. This is a historical fact. King Bentor took his life out of rage, shame and resignation to have lost a country (guañac) and a people. The last words he screamed were Achamán, Achamán.(God) So goes the legend. He died as a free man.
The name Bencomo has survived as name in Tenerife society. To find out more about the town which fortunately still has so much of history Tenerife and was was destroyed by volcanic eruption, please, go from history Tenerife to Tenerife shopping in surroundings loaded with Tenerife history where I once took my kids for a sightseeing and shopping trip. History Tenerife connected to Los Realejos the town with much Tenerife history where the monk's is again legendary and peculiar and also about business at the end of XVIII century and on how it is continued at the same place today. Also, please, go see Abaco Finca (farm) Musuem for XVIIIthcentury upper class living which also shows much about history Tenerife and which is also in the neighborhood of the ruin. Very close by the ruin runs the coastal hiking path Rambla de Castro whose historic Finca de Castro Museum is mentioned and shown in Tenerife fincas which leads all the way from Maritim Hotel in Puerto de la Cruz until San Juan de la Rambla. The trail is much loved for walking in Tenerife. It's possible to get onto the Rambla from La Longuera in Los Realejos Bajo. From there on until the bridge by the ruin gentle walking is the norm. Please, find some instructions, here: Many significant Tenerife Island events of past centuries are to be found in History Puerto de la Cruz. History on Santa Cruz as well as on the island of Tenerife in general.
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