Page 48 - DIVA_4_2007_No.31

Living History:

World Heritage S :e

Tenerife became the capital America. teenth centuries. Ornate
in the eighteenth century. fountains and statues adorn
San Cristobal dc La Laguna a variety of interesting
World heritage Site squares and gardens that are
The city still conserves an air well preserved. Several
San Cristobal de La Laguna of unmistakable stateliness streets of significance are
was declared World Heritage from its long period of domi- closed to traffic that offers
Site on 4 December 1999. nation. It can be seen in its place and space for leisurely
Designated by the UNESCO layout, in the architectural discovery.
World Heritage Convention, style of its buildings, with a
it is recognition of unique predominance of symmetrical in,, hlist
international importance of sash-windows, in the sturdy
natural, man-made site, area walls, framed in volcanic Prior to the Spanish
or structure deserving of stone, and in the sober beauty Conquest, the island's muse-
special protection. It seeks to of its main places of worship ums provide vivid testimony
protect and preserve cultural and public buildings. to the history, culture, occu-
San Cristobal de La Laguna, and natural heritage around the It is an ecclesiastical capital, pation and life styles and
in Tenerife, Canary Islands, world considered to be of out- as well as the headquarters of funerary rites of Guanche
was founded in 1496 by standing value to humanity. different autonomous cultur- settlers, the ancient cave
Alonso Fernandez de Lugo al, scientific, research, histori- dwelling people of Tenerife.
before the conflicts with the The universal accolade adds cal institutions and museums.
Guanches, its native people, prestige to the historic heritage The Bishop, the Curia and the San Cristobal de La Laguna
were brought to an end. The of the city's development as a Cathedral council reside in is now a sprawling urban
town took its name from a laboratory in which new ideas the city, and they have a centre. A municipality of
small seasonal pool that was of an "organised city" were Diocese Seminar and a Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in
formed in the Aguere valley, experimented between the College of Theology. It is rank and inhabitants it is the
in the north-east of the island, fifteenth and sixteenth cen- home to some of the best folk- third most important of the
just over six hundred metres turies. La Laguna was con- lore and significant religious Archipelago. The city has
above sea level. Before the ceived as a balanced space, processions and festivals in become a melting pot of his-
Spanish conquest, the Aguere with no walls or defensive sys- the Canary Islands that attract tory, art, tradition, old
valley was a crossroads on the tems, planned for the peaceful thousands of pilgrims and vis- essence and young spirit
grazing trails used by the cohabitation of the citizens. itors from the island and whose main attractions are
Guanche settlers. beyond. the cultural and artistic
Its original layout, as recorded trends of its five centuries of
From a flat and cleared land, a by the Italian architect Its famous university found- Living History.
mere twenty-five years after Leonardo Torriani who served ed in 1742 makes it the old-
being founded, La Laguna King Phillip II (reign 1556- est in the Canary Islands.
was already "much more 98), has remained practically The Cathedral is renowned R 2007r
densely populated and better intact in a well known ancient as are the many churches
than any other settlement in map of the city. With its price- and chapels bearing witness Note: h hnoii'lerh,'eiucnt is
the Canary Islands". Develop- less cultural, artistic and mate- to the sumptuous wealth of fi%Cfl to all source used in
ment was basically due to the rial heritage, it emphasizes the the artistic treasures of La preparation of this article.
fact that merchants, farm important role in the develop- Laguna. Several religious It Jbl/ot's a published text
The
Black
workers, craftsmen and ment of the urban and social orders were established entitled
ii-in
of
tradesmen from Portugal, trends which appeared in the from early on with monas- '%Iadon,,a:
Geneva, Andalusia, Cata- Renaissance. teries for Augustinians, Cru:delarii (Tenerife) bj'
lonia, Majorca, etc. settled Dominicans, Franciscans Ita Marguet, Fehruar,
there right from the begin- This urban conception, drawn and Jesuits and convents for 2006,
ning. up in a virgin area like a big women's religious orders.
compass pointing to every lat-
For more than three centuries, itude of the island, grew into These buildings form part of
La Laguna was the principal an ideal city in a new the historical heritage of the
arbiter of the island as well as period of history, a model that old city along with its state-
its largest city. Following vol- was soon taken to America. ly mansions, civic, public
canic eruption that caused This model was consolidated and other fine architecture
serious decline, Santa Cruz de and spread all over Spanish from the sixteenth to eigh-

46 4 2007 Diva

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