Masca

Template: Infobox district of a municipality in Spain / Maintenance / localidad

Masca ( cf. span = mascara mask, larva, so maybe " the hidden village" - possibly a village escape from the pirates of the 18th and 19th century ) is a mountain village in the northwest of the Canary Island of Tenerife. It had 2011 105 inhabitants in 80 houses. The in the Teno mountains 650-800 m above sea level. inst preferred place was to be achieved by the early 1960s only a dirt road from Santiago del Teide. Meanwhile combines a narrow winding mountain road Masca with Buena Vista and Santiago del Teide. The center of the village is the small plaza at the church.

Located in a volcanic crater Masca consists of several districts, spread across several mountain slopes. Wherever it is possible, terraced fields were created. By the end of the 20th century the best onions, potatoes and garlic to the best of Tenerife Masca came from. The YAME fruit, palm juice, citrus and goat cheese were specialties. Reason for the productive agriculture are water tunnel ( Galerias ), which were driven through the generations of the " Monte del Aqua" ( Tarucho ). The village has still a " Comunidad de Aqua". Each house has the right to irrigate directly and free fill ( from the full Galeria) or own stock tanks on certain days and hours. The exodus of youth leads for 20 years to the decline of agriculture and the aging of the population. The municipality of Buenavista del Norte tried for 20 years to expropriate the water and put the inhabitants of water clocks.

Particularly striking is the design of the houses in Masca, which have been built on two levels on the mountain slopes. There are several rooms in a house, so they are not internally linked, but always have a separate entrance from the outside.

Through a forest fire on July 31-August 3 2007, four houses were destroyed in Masca ( including the restaurant mentioned below in the old school ) and a large part of the vegetation areas affected. The fire moved from the direction of the mountain into the village and had to be removed by helicopter.

Tourism

Masca is the starting point for one of the most popular and famous hiking on Tenerife. It begins in the lower middle of the town and through the Barranco to the sea ( about 6 hours there and back, after registration you can also be picked up by boat on the beach. ) This brings many tourists to the town. Although these are predominantly day visitors, for whom the place is just a starting point, he has thus yet noticeably changed: Was there in 1986 only one bar for the locals and only one restaurant for tourists in the old school (at that time one of the oldest buildings in Masca ), so you count eleven catering establishments today.

Switchbacks down to the Masca Gorge

Impression

Overview