Cosmopolitan Spain Traveler - Winter 2019

Cosmopolitan Spain Traveler

Anaga Rural Park

the top station, you still can’t quite say you’ve made it to Spain’s highest point. There is a trail from here that leads you up to the crater on foot. It takes roughly 40 minutes and is a difficult walk, but just think of the pride of telling your friends you have reached the very top of Spain on your own two feet. If you want to live this unforget- table experience, you must apply for a free licence in advance. La Laguna has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 and is consid- ered a unique example of an unwalled colonial city. The original 15th century layout remains almost intact, and was also used as a template for the colonial Historic Quarter of La Laguna

cities founded in America, such as Old Havana, Lima and Cartagena, which is why their houses and streets look so similar. The city center is very well-preserved, dotted with lovely buildings on all of its streets, which are bustling, full of shops, cafés and taverns, making it the perfect opportunity to do some shopping or have a replenishing drink, a snack, or an authentic meal. A list of the buildings you won’t want to miss includes the refurbished Cathedral, the La Concepción church, the Santísimo Cristo de La Laguna Royal Sanctuary – which houses a figure of the Santísimo Cristo (Holy Christ), Plaza del Adelan- tado, the City Hall, Palacio de Nava and Casa de los Capitanes.

This rugged natural enclave is one of the few places on Earth where primor- dial laurel forest still grows. Walking its paths and catching sight of its beautiful landscapes gives you a real idea of the natural, cultural and aesthetic beauty of the area. Anaga Country Park covers much of the mountain range located on the north-west of the Island. With an expanse of almost 35,800 acres, it crosses quite a significant stretch of Tenerife, spanning the municipalities of La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Tegueste.

For more information on Tenerife, visit: www.traveltotenerife.com

Sunset at Playa del Roque de las Bodegas, Anaga Rural Park Image courtesy of Turismo de Islas Canarias

9