Santa Cruz de La Palma

Santa Cruz de La Palma is the name of the capital of the Canary island of La Palma and the municipality of the same name. In the main town itself 16,330 inhabitants ( 1 January 2013).

The municipality is located below the wooded slopes of the Cumbre on the eastern side of the island. Between the coast and Cumbre is a narrow shoreline extends, then the white houses extend to the mountain slopes. All administrative facilities in La Palma are concentrated in Santa Cruz de La Palma.

Cityscape

The historic center of Santa Cruz has been declared a Historic-Artistic Site. The main thoroughfare is Avenida Maritima, the only built on the land side of the coastal road. Here you can see alongside new representative buildings, several old houses in the Canarian colonial style, and which have, among other ornate wooden balconies. Inscribed on the parallel Calle O'Daly, also known as Calle Real, the town hall is located ( in the 16th century under the reign of Philip II built ), the Plaza de España with the church Matriz de El Salvador, small shops, cafés and restaurants.

History

Foundation

In the first half of the first millennium BC, when the first settlers groups came from North Africa, began the first settlement of people in the former Tedote district. At some serving as landmarks places like the caves of the mountain Morro de Las Nieves their presence is by cave photos, channels, crucible and which lie along the tops of the municipality of La Erita occupied ( collection of cave photography with over 300 motifs).

Santa Cruz de La Palma, was founded on May 3, 1493 the day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, by Alonso Fernández de Lugo at the place where the Canarian settlement Apunyon (also Auprón ) was located. Santa Cruz was after this conquest under the Crown of Castile. Since then, the city came to be gradually more and more economic importance. In particular, the trade routes to Europe and America were so significant that in 1558 the port of Santa Cruz, the first overseas court was established.

America trade

La Palma was not only sugar and wine to prosperity. Thanks to its geographical location, the island could also benefit from trade with America. 1508 had the Canary Islands get the privilege of virtually free movement of goods. Nearly every ship sailing between mainland Spain and the American colonies, laid on the Canary Islands for an overnight stay, especially on La Palma, the most north-westerly island. 1556 gave the Spanish King Philip II of Palma's capital, Santa Cruz not only the nickname of high noble and loyal Villa de la Cruz, but also the privilege to operate with new possessions overseas trades on its own account. In shipbuilding, the port city soon took a leading position. On the island favored by the wood of the forests of the first shipbuilders had settled immediately after the conquest. More than 120 frigates and caravels ran in the 16th century from the stack. In the first half of the 17th century was Santa Cruz de La Palma to Seville and Antwerp is the third largest port in the Spanish Empire. The economic decline began in 1657. After adoption, all ships had to be registered in Tenerife and there pay their taxes on the way to America. The trade in the port of Santa Cruz de La Palma came so near standstill. While were King Carlos III. 1778 America trade for all Spanish ports free, but Santa Cruz de La Palma was never able to fully recover from the economic crisis. Is the commercial capital of the cosmopolitans became quiet colonial city of today.

Pirate attacks

The prosperity of Santa Cruz de La Palma, where in the trading houses plenty of sugar and later wine encamped, and at the port loaded with American gold and silver vessels anchored, raised naturally also with pirates, and equipped with royal Kaperbriefen privateers other maritime nations, great interest. 1537 the port city was attacked for the first time. But they were prepared and able to put to flight the French corsairs. François Le Clerc in 1553 was named wooden leg, with a fleet of eight ships on Santa Cruz ago. This time the attacker had an easy time, they plundered the city and put everything that they could not take, and the city on fire. After this disaster further defenses were built around the island emerged batteries and gun emplacements. Given this artillery shield failed all other pirates and Korsarenangriffe. 1585 Englishman Francis Drake was still forced to turn back at sea; otherwise it later was issued a countryman of his, and pirates from Algeria and the Netherlands.

Traffic

A few kilometers south of the capital is the airport opened in 1970 and is currently extended Santa Cruz de La Palma. Here on regional charter flights and regional scheduled flights to the other islands of the archipelago are handled.

Daily operated a fast ferry to the Shipping Line Fred. Olsen Express the route Santa Cruz de La Palma - Los Cristianos ( Tenerife South ) in about two hours. The Spanish state shipping company Compañía Trasmediterránea operates between Cádiz ( mainland Spain) and Santa Cruz de La Palma, with a stopover in Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife, once a week. Another ferry is operated by the company Naviera Armas.

The commercial harbor is economically very important for La Palma. Here is also a fuel oil plant, the fuel is replaced by tankers.

Attractions

Among the attractions of the city include the following:

• The Town Hall from the 16th century with wooden coffered ceiling
• The Sanctuary of the Virgen de las Nieves with image of the patron saint of the island (14th century) and tons of heavy silver altar (17th century) - Every five years there the procession Bajada de la Virgen de las Nieves instead
• Divided into three covered with coffered Mudéjar the Iglesia Matriz de ships El Salvador, start up in early 16th century
• The Church of Santo Domingo from the 16th century, part of the ancient monastery of San Miguel de las Victorias. Inside it holds a comprehensive collection of Flemish oil painting.
• In the Church of the Incarnation, the Flemish sculpture are The Annunciation ( 16th century ) and a group of sculptures in polychrome wood from Flanders
• The Iglesia de San Francisco was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument. The building in the Renaissance style once belonged to the monastery Real Convento de la Inmaculada Concepción, today seat of the Island Museum Convento de San Francisco; dome-shaped panel factory in the chapel of Señor de la Piedra fría; Works of art: Flemish group of sculptures of Santa Ana, the Virgin and Child (16th century), carved figure of Seville (18th century)
• The Castillo de Santa Catalina from the 16th/17th. century; thick stone walls surround this national historic monument, which was part of the defensive belt, Charles V commissioned the Italian architect Leonardo Torriani with the design of the castle in 1585

Places in the municipality

The population numbers in parentheses are from the year 2007.

• Santa Cruz de la Palma ( 14,160 )
• Miranda ( 1039 )
• Lomo del Centro ( 252)
• Velhoco (111 )
• Juan Mayor ( 198)
• Cuesta del Llano de la Cruz ( 198)
• Lomo Espanta (157 )
• Los Alamos (145 )
• El Planto (130 )
• Las Tierritas (118 )
• Llano Grande ( 104)
• El Pocito (97 )
• Las Tosca (67 )
• El Morro (72 )
• Roque de Arriba (74 )
• Barranco del Rio (50 )
• La Verada (68 )
• La Portada (74 )
• Candelaria (58 )
• Las Nieves ( 19)
• Lomo de los Gomeros (12 )
• El Dorador (9 )
• El Fronton ( 5)
• Las Lajitas (16 )

Sons and daughters of the town

• Manolo Blahnik ( born November 27, 1942), Spanish shoe designer
• José García y Más ( born 1945 ), Spanish painter

Demographics

The largest growth experienced Santa Cruz in the 30s and 70s of the 20th century. Since the turn of the millennium, the population, contrary to the trend for urban areas of La Palma, in decline.

Gallery

The typical wooden balconies

Teatro Chico

Santa Cruz de La Palma

Covered market