Have you just, like me, imagined the perfect island vacation? I personally began to believe that is possible because of Tenerife, a divinely beautiful place that offers endless entertainment, excellent hotels, unforgettable vacation and many emotions. My Canary Islands vacation spent in a beautiful holiday villa on the Atlantic coast was a dream come true for me.
Don’t forget your sunscreen, sunglasses, your widest smile and let our tour round Tenerife starts now.
Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. The second largest city of the archipelago is called Santa Cruz de Tenerife and is the capital of the island. Here is headquartered the government. The city is together with Las Palmas is the capital of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands. La Laguna University founded in 1792 is located in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
The island has an area of 2034 km2 and just like the other Canary Islands is of volcanic origin too. The highest point is Mount Teide – a volcano with a height of 3718 meters. This is the highest peak on the entire Spanish territory. Sun, sandy beaches and exclusive selection of luxury hotels with spa facilities make Tenerife suitable for visits at any time of year. Travelers seeking adventure can search for hidden treasures and visit famous landmarks such as the Teide National Park, which was recently declared a World Heritage by UNESCO. Established in 1954, Parque Nacional de las Canadas del Teide includes an enormous volcanic crater of 48 km in circumference. Here rises Teide peak with the impressive 3718 meters, making it the highest peak in Spain.
The second largest city on the island after the capital is the city of La Laguna. Landmarks that are worth seeing here are the University City, La Concepcion church – recognized as a site of national importance, the local library at the university, Bishop’s Palace and Nava Palace, where El Santisimo Cristo de la Laguna is worshiped, as well as the Ancient Dragon tree in the El Seminario garden. Another city that should not be overlooked when visiting the island is La Orotava, located in the heart of the beautiful Orotava Valley. There are gardens and terraces formed by the relief structure there. Characteristic of the city are the old houses. Among city’s landmarks stand out La Concepcion with its Baroque facade, San Juan and El Kalvario museum. The small towns north of Tenerife such as Icod de los Vinos and Garachico managed to fully preserve their unique atmosphere. On the narrow streets of these towns can be seen many notable buildings on whose facades are intertwined specific details from the Canary architecture.
It is difficult to say how long it will take to enjoy the beauty of Tenerife, to visit popular places on the island, enjoy traditional cuisine, visit local restaurants and endless beaches, so my advice is to enjoy every moment on Tenerife and if it is not enough then return to this extraordinary island.
