SAN CRISTOBAL DE LA LAGUNA, so say the brochures, is “the most beautiful city you must go to in Tenerife.” On the other hand, they say that La Orotava is “a town you must visit in Tenerife.” With two weeks to spend and a car at our disposal we were able to check out both of them!
Palace of Nava and Grimon, San Cristobal de la Laguna
Quiet Sunday morning in San Cristobal de la Laguna
The Spanish arrived in Tenerife in the late-XVth Century, replacing the original Guanche people who had lived in the Canaries for 2000 years. But so much of Tenerife is condos and vacation homes, colonial towns like San Cristobal de la Laguna and Orotava are a rare treat. We stopped in San Cristobal on a quiet Sunday and wandered through the historic section while locals and visitors sipped coffee, walked dogs or strolled with the family.
Decked out for the Holidays
Casa de los Balcones, Orotava
Orotava was in full holiday mood as we followed narrow cobblestone streets up and around, searching for a place to park. Orotava is know for its wooden balconies—Casa de los Balcones is one of the most visited sites in town.
