The village of Garachico was declared cultural and historical site of interest and follows the urban plans that the Spanish Royalty once exported to America. Its main feature is the rectilinear shape of the streets that invites you to explore the place while having a nice stroll and enjoying every enchanting corner. All this of course, within a calm environment full of tradition and culture/
The true centre of Garrachico had a Commercial feel to it and was located by the port, at the Plaza de las Lonjas. However, after the Trebejo volcano exploded in 1706 the layout of the city changed completely and the old port was all covered by the lava. The walking route through Garachico that we are proposing, offers you the opportunity to explore the main historical sites of the village including those which survived after the eruption.
The starting point is at the San Francisco convent. This is the oldest convent in Garrachico (dated 1526) and had to be rebuilt after the volcano exploded. The Plaza de la Libertad which was once more isolated from the rest of the village has now become the central urban area due to the eruption.
The next stop takes us to the Casa de los Condes de la Gomera (also called Casa de Piedra) its construction was commissioned by the first marquis of Adeje towards the end of 17th century. The house, also destroyed by the volcano, has only preserved its renaissance façade.
From the Casa de los Condes we continue to the Santa Ana church which is located on a land that used to house a chapel in 1520. Its name was given in honor of Cristobal Ponte’s wife, a Swiss trader who resided in Garachico and donated the lands for this purpose. The lava left only some of the parts of the original structure of the house and these were used for the reconstruction of the house.
We now get to the Plaza de Abajo o Plaza de las Lonjas (currently know as Plaza Juan González de la Torre). This used to be the main square of the village during the 16th and 17th centuries and was the center of the economic activity and also; as its name indicates the village’s market place. After the explosion it lost a little of its importance. We advice you here to have a look at the ‘Puerta de Tierra’; a stone door that used to separate the space between the port and the city.
Moving on from this milestone we get to ‘Calle Zamora’ whose buildings were built over the lava. The walk will then lead you to the old port of the city; the only natural one on the north of the Island and which due to its great activity was nicknamed the ‘Carrera de Indias’. Wine was the most important export of the Canaries until the beginning of the 19th century and converted this port into Tenerife most important port during the 16th and some part of the 17th century. The eruption in May 1706 buried the port so it lost its importance and saw very little commercial activity after this.
If you continue strolling by the coast, while enjoying the sea breeze you will get to the ‘Castillo de San Miguel’ which has been declared a cultural site of interest within the category of monument. Its construction started in 1575 but was completely destroyed by the big fire of 1967 (known as ‘San Jose’). It was only possible to start rebuilding in the 18th century.
Without moving away from the coastline you will pass the area called ‘El Caleton’ which has some natural pools and heading back to the starting point (San Francisco convent) you get to ‘Casa de los Marqueses de la Quinta Roja’ our final highlight.. This building from the 16th century was totally refurbished by Cristobal de Ponte y Llarena; the first marquis of Quinta Roja. In its interior it has a nice patio and wooden galleries and the façade has asymmetric windows with geometrics designs.
We have now come to the end of the Garachico route that enables you to get a general impression of the richness of monuments and also the historical-artistic buildings of this beautiful village located on the Northern side of the Island.