San Cristóbal de La Laguna

城市概覽

History

First called Aguere by the indigenous Guanche inhabitants, the entire valley and the large lake which onced existed in its depression (the Spanish name La Laguna) was originally a pilgrimage site. Following the Battle of Aguere in 1494, the Spanish established their own settlement in 1496 and declared it the capital of Tenerife, and later of all the Canary Islands. The city centre with its current layout and architecture dates largely to the late 16th century. Its urban plan was considered to be so successful that it was then used as a blueprint for later Spanish colonial cities in the New World, including such diverse places as Oaxaca, Lima, and Havana. Whereas coastal cities on Tenerife were periodically raided by pirates, San Cristóbal de La Laguna enjoyed steady growth and peace because of its inland location. By the end of the 17th century the tides started to turn however, and the city suffered from a declining population. In 1723, its title of capital was stripped and transferred to adjacent Santa Cruz de Tenerife. A consequence of the tampered growth is the conservation of most of the historic city centre, in contrast with Santa Cruz de Tenerife that transformed into a metropolis with a high rise skyline. For history and architecture loving travellers, the historic centre makes San Cristóbal de La Laguna a must-see destination when visiting Tenerife. Since the centre was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, additional protection measures have been taken to preserve the cultural heritage, and the most significant historical streets and squares have been closed off for motorized traffic. It is sometimes called the Florence of the Canary Islands because of its numerous churches and convents. Many tunnels, passages, and underground vaults have been discovered in the city in the 21st century, indicating that the current city was raised by as much as 1 metre as at the time of its founding. Some of these tunnels lie under iconic buildings such

如何抵達

By plane 1 Tenerife Norte (Los Rodeos, TFN IATA). The airport is next door to the city. (updated Mar 2023) Getting there and away:

Bus lines 102, 107, and 108 depart from the airport to the central bus exchange (intercambiador), which is a single stop away. Departures are approximately every half-hour, and a one-way ticket is €2.45, payable directly to the bus driver. 2 Tenerife Sur (Reina Sofia, TFS IATA) is 70 km to the south-west, with good bus connections to the city.

By bus 3 La Laguna Intercambiador (Bus Station) (about a ten-minute walk to the centre), ☏ +34 922381807. M-F 06:00-20:00, Sa Su and holidays 09:00-17:00. La Laguna is well-connected with other parts of the island by bus, with most buses stopping here. The Titsa Information Centre inside has bus schedules and route maps, and sells ten+ cards. (updated Mar 2023) From the Santa Cruz bus exchange, buses 14 and 15 arrive every 10 minutes or so, with a journey taking 20 minutes and costing €1.45. Buses 101, 102, and 103 serve Puerto de la Cruz, and 108 is the most direct bus to La Orotava.

By tram

Line 1 of the MetroTenerife tram system (look for Atari like symbols) links Santa Cruz with La Laguna, terminating at 4 Trinidad, at the southern edge of the historic centre. Trams depart approximately every 10 minutes, and the journey takes 20 minutes.

By car Motorway TF-5 connects the city with Santa Cruz to the east and with Puerto de la Cruz and La Orotava to the west. From the south of the island, TF-1 connects with the shorter TF-2, from which travellers can pick up the TF-5. The historic city is closed to motor traffic, and therefore drivers must park on the outskirts. There is a large public parking 5 Las Quinteras (€0.60/hr, max. €7.50/day) on the eastern edge of the old city with another 6 car park just a short distance north, but parking spaces can be very scarce, so be prepared to circle around the lot a few times before finding a space.

當地交通

The historic city centre is completely pedestrianised and easy to walk around. For further distances, Titsa buses also function as the local bus service; see above for details.

必看景點

The historic centre of San Cristóbal de La Laguna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and having a walk around is worth a visit on its own. The most important sights are in the historic centre, many of the architectural highlights in the 1 Calle de San Agustín. There is a single ticket giving access to the Church of the Immaculate Conception (including ascent of the tower), the Casa Salazar, the Church of St. Dominic, and the Church-convent of Santa Catalina de Siena, for €2. Keep your ticket, as it will be perforated for each of the sights you visit.

Churches and cathedrals 2 Church of the Immaculate Conception (Iglesia de la Concepción), Plaza de la Concepción, ☏ +34 922 259 130. M-F 08:30-13:30 18:00-19:30, Sa 08:30-13:30 18:00-20:30, Su 07:30-14:00 16:30-20:00. Established in 1511, this is the oldest parish church on the island. The interior has beautifully-painted Mudejar wooden ceilings, and visitors can climb the bell tower, which is the tallest in the Canary Islands. It's prohibited to ring the bells, although very tempting! Outside the church is an ossuary with the remains of victims of many epidemics. Photography inside the church is not permitted. Tickets must be purchased from the ticket office next to the bell tower. €2. (updated Aug 2019)

3 Cathedral of San Cristóbal de La Laguna (Catedral de San Cristóbal de La Laguna), Plaza de los Remedios, ☏ +34 681 19 72 36, [email protected]. M-Sa 08:00-18:00, Su 08:00-14:00. Main religious building in the city, declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 1983, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. The current structure was built between 1904 and 1915 in the Neoclassical and Neogothic styles, on the site of an early 16th-century chapel which is believed had been built atop an earlier Guanche necropolis. Inside is the elaborate Baroque 18th-century altarpiece of the Virgin of Los Remedios (La Virgen de los Remedios), the patron saint of the city; seven painted panels have been attributed to the Flemish ma

體驗活動

1 Anaga National Park Visitor Centre (Centro de Visitantes del Parque Rural Anaga), Barrio Cruz Carmen 2, ☏ +34 922 63 35 76. 09:30-16:00 daily. Visitor centre of the park, where you can pick up a map to aid hiking trips. There is a small exhibition in Spanish complemented with leaflets in English. (updated Mar 2019)

2 Leal Theater (Teatro Leal). Theatre in eclectic style, used for film screenings and theatre performances. With a capacity of 608 spectators, it is among the largest of its kind left on the Canaries, and has been renovated from the 1990s until the late 2000s. (updated Apr 2019)

購物

1 Mercado Municipal de la Laguna (La Laguna Municipal Market), Plaza del Cristo, s/n, ☏ +34 922 253 903, [email protected]. Daily 07:00-14:00, Th 17:00-20:00; closed on Th in Aug. A good place to buy fruit, vegetables, and artisanal products as well as clothi