World Heritage Cities in Spain

CITIES

SAN CRISTÓBAL DE LA LAGUNA

The island of Tenerife is not only idyllic beaches and unspoiled nature. It is also the colonial layout of its colourful first city, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, which was founded over five centuries ago. You'll love the pedestrian streets, the pal- aces, the religious buildings and the laid- back lifestyle of the Tenerife people.

Photo: World Heritage Cities

a a SAN CRISTÓBAL DE LA LAGUNA

You'll see how the city is laid out like a grid, designed using maritime naviga- tional instruments. As you stroll through the elegant streets in the centre of the town you can't help but notice the live- ly presence of students from the two- hundred-year-old University , the first to be founded in the archipelago. The city was also a powerful ecclesi- astical centre and a number of church- es were built here. The most signifi- cant of these are the Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción and the Holy Cathedral Church of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios . You can also visit the austere Convent of Santa Catalina de Siena and the Chapel of San Miguel Arcángel , which is now a Cultural Centre. Everywhere you look there'll be pal- aces and stately houses with brightly coloured façades and stone porches.

a a HOUSE OF SALAZAR Photo: World Heritage Cities One of the best preserved is the Casa de Salazar with strange, zoomorphic gargoyles which remind you of Pre- Hispanic Mexican art.

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