Visiting La Laguna in its 20th UNESCO year
Monday, October 28, 2019 @ 1:19 PM
IT'S NOT just an easy destination for European holidaymakers seeking sunshine and superb beaches – although it is that as well, we can't deny it. But Spain is home to more UNESCO heritage sites than anywhere else in the world besides China and Italy, making it the perfect spot for culture vultures and ideal for exploring at any time of the year, not just the height of summer.
Now is a good time to visit one of its UNESCO sites – the centre of San Cristóbal de la Laguna in Tenerife, the original capital of the island and the first of Spain's colonial cities without a boundary wall that retains its ancient design almost intact.
When it was founded by the Spanish colonisers, its location was deliberate: water was abundant thanks to the now-defunct lagoon which gave the city its name, it was far enough from the coast to be safe from pirates, and tucked in the Aguere valley, right on the edge of the Anaga mountain, it was protected enough that it did not need a fortress built around it.
Built in 1496, it would become a UNESCO heritage site 503 years later, and now, the city council is organising a series of exhibitions, guided tours and other events to mark the 20th anniversary of this prestigious title.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com