La Orotava - Historic Centre
The most beautiful historic centre on the island. Colonial palaces, mysterious Masonic gardens and volcanic sand carpets from Teide.
La Orotava is a journey through time. Cobbled streets lined with grand residences and carved wooden balconies lead to hidden gardens and mysterious squares. Wooden balconies were the exclusive privilege of the wealthiest families: wood was such a rare and expensive building material that only the aristocracy could afford them. The most spectacular example is the Casa de los Balcones from 1632: an elaborately decorated façade, an inner courtyard planted with flowers, and a museum of traditional Canarian crafts with a shop.
The walk centres on the Plaza del Ayuntamiento with its neoclassical town hall. Behind the town hall lies the Hijuela del Botánico: an intimate botanical garden with 3,000 species of exotic plants and dragon trees. Higher up, steep steps lead to the Victoria Gardens (Jardines de la Quinta Roja, 4,000 m²) with fountains and terraces descending towards a panorama of the Atlantic and Teide. At the top of the gardens stands an empty white marble mausoleum.
The story of the mausoleum is La Orotava's most dramatic tale. Diego Ponte del Castillo, 8th Marquis of Quinta Roja, was a Freemason in the Teide and Taoro lodges. When he died, the Church refused him a Christian burial. His mother Sebastiana commissioned architect Adolphe Coquet to build a mausoleum of white marble from Lyon: 8 Corinthian columns, the omega letter on the door, 7 terraces symbolising the path from birth to enlightenment (1883). When after the 1868 revolution the Church changed its mind, he was buried in the family vault. The mausoleum remains empty to this day.
The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción is the finest example of Baroque architecture in the entire Canary Islands (listed as a cultural asset since 1948). The tradition of flower carpets for Corpus Christi dates back to the 16th century. Since 1913, a great picture of volcanic sand from Teide has been created on Plaza del Ayuntamiento (870 m², Guinness Record 2007). The Museo de las Alfombras next to Casa de los Balcones documents the history and technique of these carpets.
TF-5 exit 33 'Centro Urbano', 10 min from Puerto de la Cruz.
Parking Orotava Centro, C. Inocencio García 5, ~€2.10/h. GPS: 28.3900, -16.5225.
Navigate to parkingGo up to the first floor of the town hall: from the balcony you can see the entire plaza. In June this is the only spot from which you can photograph the monumental Teide sand carpet in full. The Hijuela del Botánico closes at midday: go early.
Most tourists stop at the Casa de los Balcones, but go inside: the flower-filled courtyard, the museum and the craft shop are worth it. Also look for the Museo de las Alfombras next door, where the technique and symbolism of the carpets are explained.
Then continue along Calle San Agustín to the Victoria Gardens: the empty mausoleum at the top and the Atlantic + Teide panorama. Coming back down via Bar Fariña to Plaza de la Constitución closes the route perfectly.
La Orotava was founded in 1502 after the conquest of Tenerife. The Guanches called the valley 'Arautaba'. It became a centre of aristocracy: the Monteverde and Ponte del Castillo families built palaces with carved wooden balconies. The most dramatic story: the 8th Marquis of Quinta Roja, Diego Ponte del Castillo (Freemason, lodges Teide and Taoro), died and the Church refused him a Christian burial. His mother Sebastiana commissioned architect Adolphe Coquet to build a mausoleum of white Lyon marble: 8 Corinthian columns, the omega letter on the door, 7 terraces symbolising the path from birth to enlightenment (1883). After the 1868 revolution he was buried in the family vault: the mausoleum remains empty to this day. Church of the Concepción: cultural asset since 1948, the finest example of Baroque architecture in the Canary Islands. The tradition of flower carpets dates back to the 16th century. The Museo de las Alfombras next to Casa de los Balcones documents this tradition. Since 1913, the great volcanic sand picture on the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (870 m², Guinness Record 2007).
Parking Orotava Centro → Plaza del Ayuntamiento (go up to 1st floor balcony) → Hijuela del Botánico (dragon tree) → C. San Agustín to Victoria Gardens (mausoleum) → down C. Calvario (Bar Fariña) → Plaza de la Constitución → back to parking.
Town Hall balcony
Town hall balcony (1st floor) - view of the entire plaza. During Corpus Christi the only spot to capture the full sand carpet.
Victoria Gardens - summit
Top of Victoria Gardens - panorama of rooftops, the Atlantic and Teide. Best in the morning.
Hijuela del Botánico
Hijuela del Botánico - dragon tree among exotic plants. Soft light all day.