Parque García Sanabria

The Parque García Sanabria is an approximately 6.7 -acre park in the northern part of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

History of the park

In 1881 the journalist Patricio Estévanez stimulates, at the former edge of the downtown Santa Cruz de Tenerife to create a park. Seven years later bought the " Sociedad de Constructora Edificio Urbano ", a company which was tasked with the expansion of the city, the site now occupied by the landmarked district of Barrio de los Hoteles is located, which also includes the park. As part of a plan to improve the hygienic conditions sat since 1899, particularly the city architect Manuel de Cámara and pediatrician Dr. Diego Guigou for a public park grounds one in which the children of the nearby neighborhood could enjoy the fresh air. In 1910, the city architect Antonio Pintor created the design for a park that should be surrounded by a high fence and is accessible through two large gates. Where this park could be created just did not go out of the plan. After 1914, the idea came up in Santa Cruz, as was done already in La Orotava on the grounds of the former convent of San José, to establish a branch office ( Hijuela = daughter ) of the Jardín de aclimatación de La Orotava. The cost of such a park should then be supported by the Ministry of Agriculture. Only in the years 1924 to 1926, more than forty years after the first attempts, the mayor of Santiago García Sanabria donations began in cash and in kind ( plant cuttings ) to collect and provide public funds of the municipality are available around the park finally 1926 to put on the former wasteland. In the following decade, the park was equipped with irrigation and lighting. Between 6 October 2004 to 9 June 2006, the park was closed and renovated to a great extent or redesigned without changing the basic structure. This transformation is most striking at the newly built children's playground.

Structure of the park

The park is a hand characterized by a vertical and two diagonal, wide -lined flowerbeds paths corresponding to more of a baroque garden design and the other by the spiraling paths which in part have more dense and very differently designed landscapes. In the described by the spiral path parts of the park are areas with (today) thick stock of deciduous trees and palms but also to plants with plants that are not typical of the Canary Islands, for example, a Bambusweg, a rose garden, a Kasuarinenweg or a cactus garden; also the lotus flower pond with goldfish is to be regarded in Santa Cruz rather than exotic. A lot of the plants is provided since 2006 with information signs, which give information on the origin, distribution and characteristics. The roads carry names since 1994, reminiscent of ten people who were in the cultural life of the city of importance. Apart from the central monument there are three more fountains. The terrace café on the nearby toward downtown south -east side of the park is not aimed primarily at tourists but to the residents of the surrounding neighborhoods. Right next to this cafe is a great clock whose dial is planted with various flowers depending on the season. The clock was built in 1958 by the Swiss company Favag and funded by the Danish consul P. Larsen. The herb garden with different popular in Spain and Mediterranean culinary herbs takes in the southwest corner of the park a more enclosed space. A private premises, are allowed to run free in the dog is, the dog owners causing the animals to be leashed in the other parking area. In the northern corner of the park in which previously housed a small zoo, a building was erected, which hosts art exhibitions at irregular intervals.

Sculpture

The sculptures and statues that can (as of 2012) of the park are in principle be divided into three categories:

Monuments for persons

The subjects were all born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

• Leopoldo O'Donnell y Jorris, born in 1809, was General and repeatedly Prime Minister of Spain.
• Leonor Pérez Cabrera, born in 1828, is regarded as significant political activist who was active in Mexico and the Caribbean. Most well known, was considered the mother of the Cuban revolutionary José Julián Martí Pérez. The sculpture created by Thelvia Marín.
• Dr. Diego Guigou y Costa, born in 1861, was the founder of the first children's hospital in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, one of the first in Spain. He sat down very deeply committed to the establishment of the park. The bronze relief was created by Francisco Borges Salas.
• Diego Crosa ( called Crosita ), born in 1869, was a writer, playwright, painter and caricaturist.
• Emilio Calzadilla y Dugour, born in 1875 was a lawyer and politician. The monument was created by Jesús María Perdigón.
• Ramón Gil- Roldán y Martín, born in 1881, was a politician, lawyer and writer. The monument was created by Nicolás Granados 1968.
• Santiago García Sanabria, born in 1880, was mayor of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. During his tenure, the park was created. The present structure of the central monument to his memory basically consists of three components: 1 Comprised of several different sized blocks monument. This memorial was designed in 1936 by the architect José Enrique Marrero Regalado and built in 1938. The location of the monument was controversial before its creation until there was an agreement at the intersection of the main axes of the park. 2 ( " The fertility " aka " La gorda del parque " ) The Portaitrelief of Santiago García Sanabria, the reliefs on the east side and the west side and the sculpture " La fecundidad " to the viewer today stylistically than a typical creation from the time Francoism. They were created ( before the start of the Civil War ) by the artist Francisco Borges Salas in 1936. The sculpture " fertility " was at the time of Franco's cultural policy incorporated in a municipal depot, since it is an " immoral representation ". Only when the fountain system was redesigned by Carles Buigas, they sought the sculpture after twenty years from the municipal depot and built it the way that was intended by the architect of the monument in the ensemble. 3 The fountain complex which was surrounding the monument remodeled in the 90s of the 20th century.

Sculpture of Exposicià Internacional de Escultura en la Calle

As part of the Exposicià Internacional de Escultura en la Calle Chamber of Architects in 1973/74 different works of art were placed in the park.

• Federico Assler, sin titulo
• Jaume Cubels, sin titulo
• Óscar Dominguez, Monumento al gato
• Amadeo Gabino, Estela Espacial
• Josep Guinovart, sin titulo
• Remigio Mendiburu, Dado para 13
• Mark Macken, Solidaridad
• Eduardo Paolozzi, Homenaje a Gaudí
• Josep Maria Subirachs, Introversión
• Pablo Serrano, Homenaje a las Islas Canarias
• Gustavo Torner, Laberinto: Homenaje a Borges
• Claude Viseux, Homenaje a Millares

Other statues and sculptures

• Gonzalo González, Signos de lo natural
• Eladio de la Cruz, Adolescente
• José Blasco, Monumento al clima
• Las Estaciones, the sculptures of the four seasons were the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1962 as a gift from Francesco Genova.

Events in the Park

The city administration has repeatedly natural history tours of the park. As part of each year held celebrations for the " Día de la Cruz ", on May 3, a local holiday, tents are set up mainly flowers and crafts objects sold in those on the wide paths of the park. Before the central monument and at the entrance next to the café platforms are built upon where there is music and theater performances for children. The tents are usually remain at the end of May to the " Feria del Libro " to be used by booksellers and publishers. Here also poetry readings and book signings will take place. In the entrance area of the park on the south -east side of a video wall for public viewing will be placed in appropriate occasions.