Things to see and do La Orotava

Founded at the beginning of the 16th century by the conquistadores, it is a pretty, quiet village with cobbled streets whose historic centre, casco antiguo , has remained practically unchanged since its creation. This is why it has been declared a monument of historical and artistic interest in its entirety. A stroll will allow you to enjoy the beautiful French gardens "Jardines del Marquesado de la Quinta Roja", wonderfully maintained, its botanical garden, flowered squares, and beautiful Castilian mansions. By pushing the heavy wooden doors, you will discover beautiful civil or religious buildings, as well as houses with balconies from the 17th and 18th centuries. You will see beautiful facades on the carretera del Escultor Estévez and a 16th century house on the plaza del Ayuntamiento. In the Plaza San Francisco and in Calle del Dr. González Garcia, the gofio mills date back to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. To obtain this staple food inherited from the Guanches, today's Canary Islanders still grind corn, barley or wheat. Some of the mills are still in operation, but are now powered by electricity rather than water. The Town Hall, located in the Plaza Ayuntamiento, is a neoclassical building from the late 19th century. Behind the Church of the Concepción, Calle Colegio, which becomes Calle San Francisco, is a small, sloping alleyway that concentrates a string of superb Canarian mansions with facades adorned with richly sculpted balconies.

Dating from the 17th century, the Casa de los Monteverde was the cradle of the Orotava's identity in the mid-19th century with its flower carpets at the time of Corpus Christi and its late Renaissance-style entrance. In 1864, it was the home of the infante Henri de Bourbon, the first member of the royal family to visit the Canary Islands. Also from the XVII century, the splendid house of the Lercaro family, is its neighbour. You will be able to taste pastries and buy decoration items.

Dating from the 17th century, this church was the church of the convent of Our Lady of Gracia, of the Augustinian order. The ensemble is baroque in style. The church has three naves, a large chapel with a representation of Our Lady of Gracia, a 17th century Portuguese sculpture, and two side chapels. There are also a few beautifully done paintings. Expropriated in the 19th century, the convent now houses the Maison de la Culture.

Its origins date back to 1608, when a small hermitage was built on some land donated by the second lieutenant Francisco de Valcarcel. Of this construction only the rear façade survives, which was built around 1728 according to the religious architecture of the Canary Islands. The largest chapel is dominated by a neoclassical tabernacle from 1787. Note the sculptures of Christ attached to the column and that of Our Lady of the Remedies, by the Sevillian Pedro Roldán, dating from the 17th century, and the Virgen de la Gloria by Luján Pérez.

In this natural garden you will discover exotic plants from the Canary Islands and examples of island fauna. A beautiful botanical park and faunistique with slug rides. You can also enjoy typical Canarian gourmet products and wines from the region.