Architecture Walk in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

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1 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 1 - Architecture Walk in Santa Cruz de Tenerife The streets in the center of Santa Cruz accommodate the wonderful buildings constructed during the last four centuries. They present a variety of styles, architectural forms and colours. The southern extension of the city boasts contemporary futuristic architecture, the best examples of which are Centro Internacional de Ferias y Congresos and Auditorio of Tenerife. Take a stroll around the city with this self-guided tour to gain unforgettable cultural experience. Guide Location: Spain» Santa Cruz de Tenerife # of Attractions: 10 Tour Duration: 2 hour(s) Travel Distance: 3.5 km Please note: This walk is also featured in the ios app "GPSmyCity: Walks and Articles with Offline Maps" on itunes App Store and the Android app "Santa Cruz de Tenerife Map and Walks" on Google Play. The apps provide GPS navigation to guide you from one tour stop to the next, so you will never be lost. The apps offer additional walking tours in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Check them out! GPSmyCity offers self-guided walking tours in over 1,000 city around the world. Please visit gpsmycity.com for more walking tour offers. List of attractions included in this self-guided walking tour: A) Centro Internacional de Ferias y Congresos B) Torres de Santa Cruz C) Auditorio of Tenerife D) Mercado Nuestra Señora de Africa E) Cabildo Insular de Tenerife F) Casino de Tenerife Building G) Circulo de Amistad XII de Enero H) Caja General de Ahorros de Canarias I) Templo Masónico J) Ayuntamiento de Santa Cruz de Tenerife Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 1 -

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3 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 3 - A) Centro Internacional de Ferias y Congresos The Tenerife International Centre for Trade Fairs and Congresses, also known as "The Fair Recint" ("Recinto Ferial") was opened in May The building, covers an area exceeding 40,000 square meters in the sea front of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This building is also the headquarters of the World Trade Center in Tenerife. The Great Hall, located on the top floor, took a total of 12,000 square meters, making it the largest covered space in the Canary Islands. This building is also the headquarters of the World Trade Center Tenerife. The complex was designed by architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava is configured as a multipurpose building that can host major fairs, exhibitions and conferences that take place on the island of Tenerife. After its opening in it have developed all kinds of events: trade shows (food, computers, agriculture, recreation, etc.), Music concerts, contests and gala carnival, congresses, seminars, art exhibitions, TV shows, fashion, and a multitude of activities. "(The above description is based on Wikipedia under Creative Common License)" Address: 12 Aveninda de la Constituciуn, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 38003, Spain Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Enrique Castrillo Núñez. Sight description based on wikipedia B) Torres de Santa Cruz The Torres de Santa Cruz is a residential complex composed of the twin towers. They were designed by Canarian architect Julian Valladares, and were built in the period The towers reach 120 m high, without the antenna, becoming the highest skyscraper in the Canary Islands, and the tallest residential building in Spain until 2010 (currently occupy third place in the latter category). The Torres de Santa Cruz are also the tallest twin towers in Spain. The complex consists of twin towers of 41,753 m2 of which 9613 m2 are below ground - and above ground is 32,140 m2. One peculiarity is that Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 3 -

4 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 4 - these buildings were not built at once. They are twin towers, Tower I, was built by the company Ferrovial, while Tower II was built by the company Candesa. They are considered a symbol of the city, next to Auditorio de Tenerife. Precisely the auditorium next to these two towers. The Tower I was completed in 2004 and Tower II in 2006, although the refurbishment work on the site began in "(The above description is based on Wikipedia under Creative Common License)" Address: 4 Calle Celia Cruz, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 38003, Spain Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and estrelas e limóns. Sight description based on wikipedia C) Auditorio of Tenerife (must see) The Auditorio de Tenerife "Adán Martín" (formerly named, but still commonly referred to as, Auditorio de Tenerife), was designed by architect Santiago Calatrava Valls. Construction began in 1997 and was completed in The auditorium was inaugurated on 26 September of that year with the presence of Felipe de Borbón, Prince of Asturias, and was later visited by former U.S. President Bill Clinton. The majestic profile of the auditorium has become an architectural symbol of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the island of Tenerife and the Canary Islands. It is one of the major attractions of Tenerife and home to the Orquesta Sinfónica de Tenerife (Tenerife Symphony Orchestra). "(The above description is based on Wikipedia under Creative Common License)" Address: 1 Avenida de la Constitución, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 38003, Spain Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and kallerna. Sight description based on wikipedia Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 4 -

5 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 5 - D) Mercado Nuestra Señora de Africa (must see) The market building in Santa Cruz is located a few blocks from Plaza España at Plaza de Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The Mercado Nuestra Señora de Africa (Market of Our Lady of Africa) looks like a castle with the arched entrance, towers, the tall clock tower opposite the entrance and the courtyard. This is the main market of Santa Cruz built in Its architecture presents a fusion of styles called North African style. There is a central patio inside the building with stalls and a cover gallery around it. It comprises a large, traditional market, multiple shops and a commercial center housed in the annex. Address: 51 Avenida San Sebastián, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 38003, Spain Image Courtesy of Flickr and excitingextravaganza E) Cabildo Insular de Tenerife Cabildo Insular de Tenerife (Presidency of the Canaries Autonomous Government) building is located on the Plaza de España; its other facade faces the port. This impressive building in Neoclassical style was designed by the prominent local architect Jose Enrique Marrero Regalado. Its construction lasted about 5 years and was completed in The structure featured the four corner towers; the tallest one is a clock tower, 164 feet in height. The main facade has an arched portico, embedded columns and decorative crown pediments. It houses the headquarters of the island government, as well as more administrative offices like the head office of Iberia, or of the Administrative Meeting of Public works. The building interiors contain a collection of artistic works that include original murals of Spanish artist José Aguiar. Address: 1 Plaza de España, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 38003, Spain Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Mataparda Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 5 -

6 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 6 - F) Casino de Tenerife Building This impressive building located in Plaza la Candelaria occupies the whole city block. The design of the Casino de Tenerife Building was developed by Miguel Martín Fernández de la Torre, the local architect who transformed the city. The building architecture invokes a rationalist style that was common in the 1930s. It was completed in The building is distinguished by its corner tower and its four dissimilar frontages using different combinations of the same structural elements. It houses the oldest of the Canary recreational societies established in 1840, and comprises a library, cafeteria, restaurant, casino and more facilities. The interiors are decorated with murals and art works of the famous local artists. Address: 12 Plaza la Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 38002, Spain Image Courtesy of Flickr and Mataparda G) Circulo de Amistad XII de Enero This grandiose white-blue edifice is located at the intersection of José Murphy and Ruiz de Padrón streets, adjacent to Plaza del Príncipe. This amazing building planned by Mariano Estanga was completed at the beginning of the 20th century. Its architectural style is Second Empire style of the Canary Islands. The facade is decorated with multiple white sandstone sculptures and small intricate decorations, as well as flags. The images are works of Edouardo Tarquis and Teodmiro Robayna. Circulo de Amistad XII de Enero hosts cultural events like plays, films, exhibitions and so on. Address: 12 Calle de Ruiz de Padrón, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 38002, Spain Image Courtesy of Flickr and Claus Rebrow H) Caja General de Ahorros de Canarias Caja General de Ahorros de Canarias represents the complex of three conjoint buildings of a geometrical plan that occupy the spacious area near Plaza del Príncipe, in the center of Santa Cruz. This is the headquarters of CajaCanarias, a Spanish savings bank established in 1984, the first financial institution in the Canary Islands. The structure was completed in 1998 and was designed by Jose Angel Dominguez Anadon, Franciso Artengo Rufino and Carlos Schwartz Perez, the authors of many Canarien modern buildings. Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 6 -

7 Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 7 - The facades are finished with natural stone that was delivered from the Tindaya mountain in the Canary Islands. The buildings have characteristic facades with many windows exactly equal and placed in a linear fashion. There are two sculptures of Martin Chirino and Jose Pepe Abad next to Caja Canarias. Address: 1 Plaza del Patriotismo, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 38002, Spain Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Peejayem I) Templo Masónico This refined building was constructed at the turn of the 20th century for use by the Masonic lodge. Now it belongs to Town hall. The Temple is located halfway down San Lucas Street. The figures of two sphinxes guard the entrance. The facades feature Egyptian motifs symbolism, a massive triangular pediment, two etched columns near the entrance and an entrance door with carved geometric patterns. It is regarded as one of the major Masonic temples in the country. Address: 35 Calle San Lucas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 38002, Spain Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Jose Mesa J) Ayuntamiento de Santa Cruz de Tenerife The Town Hall of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is accommodated in the building that is named Palacio de los Dragos as there are a couple of perennial drago trees at the entrance. This palace, built at the beginning of the 20th century, is one of the four public administration establishments in the capital. This Neoclassic building has a three-arched portico crowned with the balcony and a classical pediment centered roof balustrade. This imposing hall is located on Calle Viera Y Clavijo, one block from the Plaza de Los Patos. Address: 46 Calle Viera Y Clavijo, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 38004, Spain Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Abaezriv Copyright by GPSmyCity.com - Page 7 -