Exploring La Laguna & Taborno — Tenerife’s Historic Heart and Wild Countryside
San Cristóbal de La Laguna on Tenerife was founded in the late 15th century and stands out as one of Spain’s most remarkable historic towns. Unlike many medieval European citiesthat grew organically, La Laguna was planned from the start using a simple grid layout organized around a central square, making it the first example of an unfortified town with this kind of Renaissance-inspired planning in the Spanish world. That innovative design later became the model for many colonial cities across the Americas.
The result is a delight for the urban planner: broad, straight streets forming pleasant blocks, graceful public plazas, and an exceptionally well-preserved architecture of Mudéjar, Neoclassical and other traditional styles that still define the historic centre today.
We wandered through a local market filled with fresh, locally grown produce — vivid colours and scents that capture the island’s agricultural abundance. Later we indulged in classic churros dipped in rich hot chocolate, the kind of simple pleasure that pairs perfectly with a morning of exploration.
Yum....
After lunch, we left the city and drove toward the tiny, remote village of Taborno. Perched on a peak between two deep ravines carved by ancient volcanic activity, it offers vast, dramatic views of Tenerife’s rugged interior. Standing there, looking across a landscape shaped by fire and time, was one of the most breathtaking moments of our trip.
That evening back in Puerto de la Cruz, we enjoyed another memorable dinner, swapping stories and savouring the day before packing up early Saturday morning for the next leg of our journey to La Palma.
