Casa Lercaro Museum
A Genoese palace turned Tenerife History Museum. Courtyards with original wells, restored carriages, and the Catalina Lercaro ghost legend -the most famous in the Canary Islands.
Casa Lercaro was built from 1593 by Francisco Lercaro de León and Catalina Justiniani: descendants of Genoese merchants registered in the Libro de Oro of the Republic of Genoa. The house was built on the plot of notary Gaspar Justiniani (d. 1556). The Mannerist doorway in the Genoese style, with a split pediment ending in volutes typical of the architecture of Serlio and Vignola, bearing the Lercaro coat of arms at its centre, is unique in the Canary Islands. On the Calle San Agustín elevation you can see a sgraffito motif characteristic of Genoese palaces.
Over the centuries the building served successively as military quarters, a university classroom, a primary school, a cobbler's shop, a carpentry workshop and a forge. The Cabildo acquired it in the 1970s and after a lengthy restoration opened it in December 1993 as the Museum of History and Anthropology of Tenerife. BIC with Monument status since 2008.
In the courtyard you will discover two restored carriages from the 18th-19th centuries, original wells and a gravestone reused as a step. The exhibition covers the Canary Islands from the 15th to the 20th century: institutional, social, economic and cultural development. The audio guide is available via the museum's Wi-Fi: connect your phone to the network and install the app. Hours: Tue-Sat 9:00-20:00, Sun and holidays 10:00-17:00. Fridays and Saturdays from 16:00 admission to the permanent exhibition is free.
The greatest attraction is the legend of Catalina Lercaro: the most famous ghost of the Canary Islands. According to the story, Antonio Lercaro's daughter was forced to marry a wealthy older man. On her wedding day she threw herself into the now-bricked-up well at the back of the courtyard. Because she had committed suicide, the Church refused burial in consecrated ground and she was interred in one of the rooms of the house. The Lercaro family reportedly soon moved to La Orotava, fleeing the shame and the ghost of the tragic young woman. Museum research has found no historical evidence for Catalina's existence, but the legend has lived for over four centuries.
Calle San Agustín 22, historic center. TF-5 or TF-13. Park at Parking San Juan (C. San Juan 19) or PARKIA La Trinidad (Av. Trinidad, 24h). Both 5 min walk.
Tram Line 1 (Santa Cruz-La Laguna), stop La Trinidad, 5 min walk. TITSA lines 14 or 15 to Intercambiador La Laguna, 10 min walk.
Get here by busSame parking as for the Cathedral and La Concepción. If you come Friday/Saturday from 16:00, museum admission is free.
Navigate to parkingOn Fridays and Saturdays from 16:00 admission to the permanent exhibition is free. Look for the bricked-up well at the back of the courtyard: legend says Catalina Lercaro threw herself into it on her wedding day. Museum research has found no historical evidence for Catalina, but the story has lived for over four centuries and the family reportedly fled to La Orotava because of the ghost.
The audio guide is excellent: connect your phone to the museum's Wi-Fi and install the app. Information in multiple languages. Bring headphones. The gravestone used as a step and the 18th-century carriages in the courtyard are gems that most visitors miss.
On the Calle San Agustín façade, look for the Genoese sgraffito: a motif characteristic of palaces in Genoa, here unique in the Canaries. The Mannerist doorway with the Lercaro coat of arms is a masterpiece of 16th-century architecture.
1593: built by Francisco Lercaro de León and Catalina Justiniani (descendants of Genoese merchants from the Libro de Oro). Plot of notary Gaspar Justiniani (d. 1556). Mannerist doorway with split pediment, unique in the Canaries. Successive uses: military quarters, university classroom, primary school, cobbler's shop, carpentry workshop, forge. 1970s: acquired by the Cabildo. December 1993: opened as the Museum of History and Anthropology of Tenerife. 2008: BIC, Monument status. Hours: Tue-Sat 9:00-20:00, Sun/holidays 10:00-17:00. Fri-Sat from 16:00 free.
PARKIA La Trinidad → Casa Lercaro (museum, 1-1.5h) → Calle San Agustín uphill → Plaza del Adelantado → Cathedral → Church of La Concepción → tapas in the old town.
Central courtyard
The carved wooden corridors around the central courtyard in natural light. Stone columns and restored carriages make a perfect frame.
Mannerist portal
The Mannerist doorway from Calle San Agustín. Look for the Genoese sgraffito on the facade - a detail most people miss.