TENERIFE, CANARY ISLANDS

Leaving the harbour, we take the motorway straight to the city of La Laguna. Centuries ago, La Laguna was the capital of the island. Its founders placed the city under the protection of Saint Christopher, from whom it gets its real name: San Cristóbal de La Laguna

Leaving the harbour, we take the motorway straight to the city of La Laguna. Centuries ago, La Laguna was the capital of the island. Its founders placed the city under the protection of Saint Christopher, from whom it gets its real name: San Cristóbal de La Laguna. As a town, it developed in an orderly manner and, as a result, today the streets are straight, the squares large and the monuments proof of La Laguna’s former grandeur. An enjoyable way to pass the time is to take a stroll along its streets, where there are rows of beautiful balconies, and old convents. Upon our arrival in La Laguna we will visit the church of the Convent of Santa Catalina, the popular marketplace in the Plaza del Adelantado, the Cathedral, the History Museum in the Lercaro Palace, and view the façade of the Episcopal Palace. Our tour continues on to Tacoronte, the most important area of vineyards on the island. We will stop at the Bodega Alvaro, where we shall enjoy a tasting of the different types of locally produced wine. The first vines planted in the Canary Islands, in the year after the conquest, came from the Eastern Mediterranean – including the vines that produced the Malmsey, the most famous of the Canary Island wines which Shakespeare immortalised in his works. The final visit today is to the Wine Museum in La Baranda El Sauzal, situated in a traditional country house. Here we have chance to experience the rich winemaking traditions of the island in a beautiful setting, with magnificent views of Mount Teide. This tour involves approximately 2 ½ hours of walking, with some steps in La Laguna. It cannot be guaranteed that all of the sights detailed in La Laguna will be visited, for example, it will not be possible to visit the Cathedral if services are in progress. The ‘hubbub’ of the marketplace cannot be predicted. The Alvaro wine cellar is closed on Sundays, and the History Museum and Wine Museum are closed on Mondays.