La Hoya

Municipality: San Miguel de Abona

The truth is that it is now almost completely uninhabited, but this was the first place in San Miguel de Abona where the Spanish conquerors settled, and that alone makes it worth visiting, not to mention the fact that it once housed an aboriginal settlement.

Several of its houses have been refurbished and turned into rural accommodation. They are now places of respite for those who long to reconnect with the rural lifestyle and get away from the stressful frenzy of modern-day life. Simply strolling along its narrow stone streets is a comforting experience. The land is mostly used for farming, where crops are covered by a layer of volcanic ash with undeniable moisture-retaining properties.

On a stroll around the area you will come across the old tile oven which was used to make the traditional curved tiles employed in local construction. The hamlet's buildings, made of stone and clay, all share a similar structure: a rectangular base divided into two parts that are separated by a patio.

You might as well make the most of your trip by visiting the nearby hamlet of Aldea Blanca, just 7 km (4.3 miles) away from San Miguel de Abona. Its Canarian style granary is almost all that remains of its halcyon days when it would have supplied the entire south side of the Island. Its curious oval shape makes it unique in Tenerife.