Overview of Santa Cruz de Tenerife

History

It was at Añazo, where the city of Santa Cruz now stands, that the Castilians landed in 1494 and made Tenerife the last island in the archipelago to be conquered. The natives who previously occupied the land were called Guanches.

On the arrival of Alonso Luis Fernández de Lugo and his men, The Great Mencey de Taoro and the island’s main king, Bencomo, said he would allow the visit only if they left the land. He said he did not know what a Christian was. However, Alonso Luis Fernández de Lugo penetrated into the island and it was not long before all nine regions of Tenerife were taken from the native Guanches, and they were made to convert to Christianity.

The conquest led to a rapid expansion of population on the island, consisting of Europeans, African slaves, and natives. There was also a dramatic change in the economy from harvesting and herding, to a higher grade.

The Portuguese introduced the sugar industry, in which African settlers worked. Sugar was the main export for the island until the 17^th century, at which time cultivation of vineyards led to the export of wine, mainly to England. In the 19^th century bananas and tomatoes became an important export, and at the end of the century British tourists began to arrive.

Santa Cruz, a former fishermen's village, rose to prominence after a Volcano destroyed the port of Garachico in the 18th century. It then became one of the most important ports of the Atlantic and the Canary Islands, a status it retains to this day.

In the 19th century Santa Cruz was awarded the status of Capital of the Canary Islands province by King Fernandez VII. It was in 1927 that the Canarias province divided into two provinces, Las Palmas and the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

In recent years, it has become clear that there exists a de facto union between the city of Santa Cruz and neighbouring city San Cristóbal de La Laguna. This is due to rapid population growth and lack of empty space between both, forming a merged metropolitan union.

From a political, administrative view, institutional changes since the conquest were not just characteristic of Andalucian influence. They also developed their own distinctive characteristics following diverse stimuli. Tenerife is the only island of the archipelago to preserve almost all its documentation of public institutions since the time of conquest. These can be seen in the island’s museums.

In the late 20^th century, a constitutional monarchy was established and political liberty developed, as did the creation of the Federation of Autonomous Regions. The new Council (Cabildos Insular) of Tenerife developed as a modern institution throughout the 20^th century, and took the initiative of establishing projects to improve and develop the island.

Culture

The culture of the city, as in the rest of the island is diverse, with influences ranging from Spain, as well as other areas of Europe, Africa, and of course from the native Guanches. The varied culture is reflected in traditional cuisine, however contemporary architecture in Santa Cruz boldly shows the city to be Spanish.

Economy

With a population approaching 250,000, this is the second most populous city of the Canary Islands and is also the nerve centre of Tenerife. Its economy is diverse, ranging from reliance on oil processing, tourism and imports and exports from its deep-water harbour. It is a major Atlantic port city and is the communications hub between Europe, Africa and the Americas, with the largest cruise ship port in Spain.