Explore Tenerife’s history

The history of Tenerife is as intriguing and varied as its landscape with the lunar plains above la Vilaflor, the stunning los Gigantes cliffs and the Playa de la Arena beach.  To enjoy the island at a less crowded time, you should try visiting off-season: the Monarch website offers cheap flights to Tenerife at various times throughout the year.  From the airport, head to the capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which is home to many of Tenerife’s best museums. More flights to Tenerife

The Museum of Man and Nature in Santa Cruz should not be missed.  Archaeological finds from pre-Hispanic settlements are displayed here which offer a fascinating insight into the life of the native population before the Spanish arrived.  Exhibitions cover the Canary Islands’ fauna and flora, with special attention paid to the many archaeologists, botanists and geologists who have spent time there.

Also in Santa Cruz is the Museo de Bellas Artes (museum of fine arts), for which entrance is free.  Of particular interest is a painting by Gumersindo Robayna Lazo dating from 1494 which shows the Spanish landing on Anazo beach.  It perfectly sums up the superior colonialist attitudes of the time, with the lowly Guanche warrior crouched behind a cactus, awed by the might and superiority of the Catholic invaders.  In fact the Spanish faced fierce resistance from the Guanche, which the picture conspicuously fails to capture.  Guanche artefacts can be found in the military museum, also in Santa Cruz, and the Museo de Antropologia de Tenerife in La Laguna.

Vineyards and winemaking are an essential part of Tenerife’s history, and one which the Wine Museum in El Sauzal.  The reputation of wines from Tenerife was such that references to them can be found in the writings of William Shakespeare and Sir Walter Scott.  For enthusiasts, there is a tasting room in the museum where you can sample some of the quality wines produced in the North-East of the island.

Tenerife’s fascinating past will take you all the way around the island, giving you a chance to connect not only with the back-stories which make up the soul of the place, but also with the breathtaking landscape.