The conquest of Tenerife, completed in 1496, was one of the most complex campaigns in the archipelago and included decisive episodes such as the battles of Acentejo. Afterwards San Cristóbal de La Laguna became one of the main political and religious centres of the Canary Islands, while Santa Cruz grew into a military and commercial port connected with America, Europe and Africa.
The conquest of Tenerife, completed in 1496, was one of the most complex campaigns in the archipelago and included decisive episodes such as the battles of Acentejo. Afterwards San Cristóbal de La Laguna became one of the main political and religious centres of the Canary Islands, while Santa Cruz grew into a military and commercial port connected with America, Europe and Africa.
Among its main reference points are Teide and sacred landscape, Historic La Laguna, Port and mobility, which connect landscape, memory and everyday life. This historical reading connects settlement, conquest, economy, institutions, migrations and cultural memory rather than reducing the island to isolated dates.
Key points
Los nueve menceyatos guanches
Antes de la conquista, Tenerife estaba dividida en nueve menceyatos con autoridades propias, lo que complico y prolongo la resistencia frente a los castellanos.
La batalla de La Laguna y la conquista de 1496
La derrota del mencey Bencomo en La Laguna en 1494 y la rendicion de Anaga en 1496 cerraron el proceso de conquista, el mas tardio del archipielago occidental.
San Cristobal de La Laguna, primera capital
Fundada en 1496, La Laguna fue capital colonial y primer trazado urbano sin murallas de America y Canarias, hoy Patrimonio Mundial UNESCO.
Santa Cruz y el traslado del poder
El crecimiento portuario de Santa Cruz durante el siglo XVIII fue desplazando el eje del poder hasta convertirla en capital provincial en 1833.
La Virgen de Candelaria y la historia religiosa
La devocion a la Virgen de Candelaria, cuyo origen se vincula a los guanches, convirtio al municipio en centro de peregrinacion para todo el archipielago.
Municipalities of Tenerife
See all →- AdejeAdeje is a municipality of Tenerife, presented through settlement, landscape, local memory and its links with the rest of the island.
- ArafoArafo is a municipality of Tenerife, presented through settlement, landscape, local memory and its links with the rest of the island.
- AricoArico is a municipality of Tenerife, presented through settlement, landscape, local memory and its links with the rest of the island.
- AronaArona is a municipality of Tenerife, presented through settlement, landscape, local memory and its links with the rest of the island.
- Buenavista del NorteBuenavista del Norte is a municipality of Tenerife, presented through settlement, landscape, local memory and its links with the rest of the island.
- CandelariaCandelaria is a municipality of Tenerife, presented through settlement, landscape, local memory and its links with the rest of the island.