Plaza de la Candelaria
The Plaza de la Candelaria is a public course in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain).
- 3.1 Edificio Olympo
- Camara de Comercio 3.2
- 3.3 Edificio Banco Santander
- 3.4 Palacio de Carta
- 3.5 Casino de Santa Cruz de Tenerife
History of the place
The territory of the Plaza de la Candelaria was the founding of the town of Santa Cruz de Tenerife at the beginning of the 16th century on the northern edge of the settlement. Initially, the site for exercises of the militia was used. Therefore, it was called Plaza de Armas. The construction of the Castillo San Cristóbal in 1579 bordered the square towards the sea. Around the square there other buildings were erected. With the increase of the importance of the port and the construction of a jetty in front of the Castillo San Cristóbal was the place now known Plaza del Castillo to the economic hub of the city. In 1706 a fountain was erected in the center of the square. Consequently, the name changed to Plaza de la Pila (Square of the fountain bowl ). After the demolition of the Castillo San Cristóbal in 1929, the place towards the harbor was open again. By the plant and the new building the Plaza de España in the area adjacent to the Plaza de la Candelaria area, in the 40s and 50s of the 20th century, the emphasis of traffic from the Plaza de la Candelaria on the Plaza de España shifted. In the transformation of the area of the Plaza de España in the years 2006 to 2008, the Plaza Candelaria was pedestrianized.
The official name of the place was changed repeatedly over time, and others in the Plaza de la Constitución, Plaza Real, etc. The name used today derives from the monument to El Triunfo de La Candelaria, the lower in 1778 part of the square was erected. Before this monument is a stage to Carnival, the Fiestas de Mayo but on other occasions up. The upper part of the square is slightly uphill to the auditorium for public events. In the remaining time is the place than the end or start of the main shopping street, Calle Castillo, with many street cafes meeting place for tourists and locals.
The place was and is still the site of many important for the City of political and social events such as the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931, demonstrations etc. For Chichareros (inhabitants of Santa Cruz ), however, the adoption of the defeated British sailors and Marines by a Guard of Honour of the Canary militia on July 25, 1792 represents the most significant event that took place on the court.
Monuments in the square
El Triunfo de La Candelaria
The monument was erected in honor of the Virgen de la Candelaria or Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria. It consists of an obelisk on top of which stands a statue of Mary. At the four corners of the base are life-size figures representing the Menceyes ( the inhabitants of Tenerife prince ) of the principality Icod, Daute, Abona and Adeje. The inscriptions on the four sides contain references to the importance of Candelaria for the island and an indication of the year of installation and the donor of the monument. By 1928 there were in the base area putto who rode on dolphins. The monument consists of Carrara marble. It was created in 1768 in Genoa, by the sculptor Pasquale Bocciardo.
La Pila
The basin, which is in the upper part of the square today was the uppermost part of a fountain which was erected in 1706 in the middle of the square. The fountain is made of local volcanic stone. This fountain was one of the endpoints of the newly installed drinking water supply of the city and the harbor. The water was brought from Monte Aguirre in the Anaga Mountains, 12 km long canal. In 1802 the fountain bowl dropped for unknown reasons and broke. Then the Bunnen was further laid down. In 1844 the fountain bowl was sold to a private individual, she set up in a hotel garden. In 1986, the fountain was built on the site until then stood at the a stone cross which stands in the Plaza de la Iglesia today.
Building on the edge of the square
Edificio Olympo
At the point at which there is the 57m high Edificio Olympo since 1975, was formerly the Hotel La Orotava. The hotel has long been one of the top destinations for travelers before they went to other parts of the island. The Edificio Olympo is on the lower floors of retail space in the top of commercial space and apartments.
Camara de Comercio
The building of the Camara Oficial de Comercio, Industria y Navegacià de Santa Cruz de Tenerife, also known as Círculo Mercantil was designed in 1932 by José Enrique Marrero Regalado and completed in 1943.
Edificio Banco Santander
The 52m high building of Banco Santander was completed in 1977 at the west end of the Plaza Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. In the building there are commercially used areas as well as residential space.
Palacio de Carta
The Palacio de Carta is a historically significant building in Plaza de la Candelaria in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Matías Rodríguez Carta had the building during the period from 1721 to 1752 build. As an architect Francisco de la Pièrre is assumed. The building, with a facade of the Plaza de la Candelaria and a barely perceptible from the Plaza tower has a courtyard (patio) with remarkable balconies and galleries of wood. The Palacio de Carta was from 1853 to 1881 the seat of the General Captains of the Canary Islands. The building is since 1947 under monument protection.
Casino de Santa Cruz de Tenerife
The building of the Casino de Santa Cruz Tenerife was designed by the architect Miguel Martín Fernández de la Torre and completed in 1935. The owner, the Sociedad Casino de Tenerife, is a private association. This is not a casino but an association for the promotion of cultural and recreational activities. In the building of important conferences and art exhibitions were held.
The building is since 2006 under monument protection.