Culture & History
Historic towns, museums, traditions and Guanche heritage
Tenerife's culture weaves together Guanche heritage, a colonial past and very much living traditions. Stroll through La Laguna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, discover the aboriginal legacy in its museums and experience festivals like the Santa Cruz Carnival, one of the world's largest.
A few places and experiences from this category.
La Laguna - UNESCO Heritage
San Cristóbal de La Laguna was founded between 1496 and 1497 by the Adelantado Alonso Fernández de Lugo and became the first capital of Tenerife.
Museum of Nature and Archaeology (MUNA)
World's largest collection of Guanche mummies
Tenerife Auditorium Adán Martín
Iconic Calatrava auditorium by the sea
Cave of the Wind, Icod
The longest volcanic tube in Europe
Ermita de San Antonio Abad
A small temple whose tradition links it directly to the Battle of Acentejo, fought just a few metres away in the ravine. Legend holds that one of the first scribes of the archipelago, Anton Vallejo, vowed to build a hermitage if he survived or won that battle; the shrine is documented around 1539. It is dedicated to Saint Anthony the Abbot, protector of animals, and its surroundings host one of the island's most distinctive livestock celebrations. It is a simple, endearing spot that brings together popular devotion, historical memory and rural roots in a single place.
Iglesia de San Agustín
Baroque church of the former Augustinian monastery of Nuestra Señora de Gracia, built between 1671 and 1694; the convent complex is now a cultural centre.
Frequently asked questions
Which UNESCO World Heritage sites are in Tenerife?
The historic centre of San Cristóbal de La Laguna has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 as an outstanding example of an unwalled colonial town. Teide is a Natural World Heritage Site.
Which museums are worth visiting?
The Museum of Nature and Archaeology (MUNA) in Santa Cruz, which holds Guanche mummies, and the Museum of Science and the Cosmos in La Laguna are among the most recommended.
What are the most important traditional festivals?
The Santa Cruz Carnival (February), declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest, and the Corpus Christi in La Orotava, with its carpets of flowers and Teide sand, are among the most famous.