Puerto de la Cruz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Puerto de la Cruz
Municipality and city
Top left: panorama view of Puerto de la Cruz; top right: Martianez Beach; middle left: Laguna Martianez; bottom left: Armas Square shopping area; bottom right: view of Araucaria heterophylla tree in Loro Park
Flag Coat of arms
Puerto de la Cruz Location in Tenerife
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Canary Islands
Province	Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Area
• Total	8.73 km2 (3.37 sq mi)
Elevation	4 m (13 ft)
Population  (2018)
• Total	30,483
• Density	3,491.8/km2 (9,044/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC±0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 (WEST)
Postal code	38400
Official language(s)	Spanish

Puerto de la Cruz is a lively city and a municipality located on the northern side of Tenerife. Tenerife is one of the beautiful Canary Islands in Spain. This city was once known as "Port of the Cross" in English. However, today everyone calls it by its Spanish name.

Puerto de la Cruz is on the northern coast. It is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) northwest of La Orotava. It is also about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) west of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The main motorway, TF-5, runs through the city. In 2018, about 30,483 people lived there. Locals are called Portuenses.

This municipality is the smallest in Tenerife, covering only 8.73 square kilometers (3.37 square miles). The city center is about 9 meters (30 feet) above sea level. The highest point is a volcanic cone called Las Arenas, which is 249 meters (817 feet) high.

Population Growth in Puerto de la Cruz

This table shows how the number of people living in Puerto de la Cruz has changed over the years.

How Tourism Shaped Puerto de la Cruz's Economy

Valle de La Orotava and Puerto de la Cruz were the first holiday resorts on the Canary Islands.

Puerto de la Cruz has a special place in the history of tourism in the Canary Islands. After Europeans arrived in the 15th century, they started trading goods. This led to many ships and people coming and going. Early visitors loved the great weather in the Taoro Valley.

Before many people visited, Puerto de la Cruz was a quiet place. It attracted rich people who liked studying the weather, plants, and the peaceful surroundings. Traveling for health reasons was a big reason why modern tourism started here.

In the early 1800s, many researchers and travelers from Europe came to Puerto de la Cruz. It became an important cultural center. Famous people like William Wilde and Alexander von Humboldt visited. This helped Puerto de la Cruz become well-known in Europe. When tourism grew, the city was ready to welcome many visitors.

Puerto de la Cruz's Climate

Puerto de la Cruz has a warm, dry climate. It is known as a hot semi-arid climate. This means it has warm winters and hot, dry summers.

A Brief History of Puerto de la Cruz

Panorama of Valle de La Orotava

The city of Puerto de la Cruz began in the early 1500s. It started as a port on the coast, connected to the town of La Orotava. By 1603, a church and a town square were built.

It was first a small fishing village. But as trade grew, so did the village. Its port became very important after a volcano eruption destroyed the nearby town of Garachico in 1706. At first, sugar was traded, then wine became a major product. This helped the area grow a lot.

In the mid-1600s, the people of Puerto de la Cruz wanted to form their own community. In 1651, King Felipe IV allowed them to choose their own village leader.

The town was part of La Orotava for a long time. In 1772, the residents elected their own local government. It was called Puerto de La Orotava. Finally, in 1808, it became a fully independent municipality. That's when it got its current name, Puerto de la Cruz.

Tourism became very important in the late 1800s. The Grand Hotel Taoro was built, and old family homes were turned into the city's first hotels. The biggest tourism boom happened in the 1950s. Since then, Puerto de la Cruz has become a major tourist spot for the island and the Canary Islands.

In 1983, an important document called the Tenerife Manifesto was announced in Puerto de la Cruz. This document helped start the political ecology movement in Spain. It also led to the creation of the Green political party.

Popular Places to Visit in Puerto de la Cruz

Monument to the waves, Lago Martianez (night view). Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife.

Puerto de la Cruz has many interesting places to explore:

• Martiánez Pools (Lago Martiánez): These amazing pools were designed by the famous Canary architect César Manrique.
• Jardín Beach: A well-known beach in Puerto de la Cruz, famous for its many palm trees and nearby hotels.
• Plaza del Charco: A lively square right in the center of town.
• Loro Parque: A very famous park and zoo located just outside the city.
• Ermita de San Amaro: A small church dedicated to the legendary Saint Amaro.
• Archaeological Museum of Puerto de la Cruz: This museum has important ancient items from the island. It also houses the Guanche idol called Guatimac.
• Anglican Church of Puerto de la Cruz: This church was built by British people living in the city. Puerto de la Cruz also has the oldest Anglican cemetery in the Canary Islands.
• Church of Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia: The largest Catholic church in Puerto, located in the town center.
• Botanical Garden: Opened in 1788, this garden in the El Botánico district is the second-oldest Botanical garden in Spain.
• Castillo San Felipe: A small stone castle located next to Playa Jardín.
• La Ranilla: A historic fisherman's neighborhood that has been recently updated.

Tourism in Puerto de la Cruz

Jardín Beach. Puerto de la Cruz

Tourism is a very important part of Puerto de la Cruz's economy. You can see many large hotels in the city's skyline.

Many visitors from Northern Europe come to Puerto de la Cruz during the winter. They enjoy the mild climate, especially around Christmas and New Year. These visitors are often older couples. In the summer, more Spanish tourists visit, especially in August when it can be very hot on the Spanish mainland.

Education in Puerto de la Cruz

The British School of Tenerife has its Yeoward Campus located in Puerto de la Cruz.

Exciting Events in Puerto de la Cruz

Faro, Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, España.

Puerto de la Cruz hosts several fun events throughout the year:

• Tenerife Airshow (Festival de Aeromodelismo): This airshow happens every year near the harbor, usually in Europa Square. It features amazing model airplanes.
• El Carnaval: A big carnival celebration held every year. It's a time for parades, music, and fun.
• La Embarcacion de la Virgen del Carmen: This event, also known as "The Water Party," takes place on July 16th. During the celebration, lots of water is thrown around, making it a refreshing and fun event.
  • It starts with "La Sardinada," where sardines are fried and sold the night before.
  • Hundreds of people gather in Charco Square and by the fishing port. They play games, like running along a greased pole to catch a flag.
  • Since the weather is usually warm in July, people wear T-shirts, shorts, or swimsuits. They often jump into the port waters to cool down. The event usually starts around noon and lasts until late at night.

• The Burial of the Sardine: A few days before the main carnival parade, a large papier mache sardine is paraded through the streets. It is then brought to the waterfront and set alight, to loud cheers. After this, a huge firework display lights up the sky.
  • During this event, you might see "professional mourners." These are usually men dressed in drag who pretend to cry for laughs.
  • This event is very popular and always draws big crowds. It's a good idea to arrive early at the harbor to get a good spot.

Photos

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  Puerto de la Cruz

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  Charco Square

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  Casa de la Aduana

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  Old harbour

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  Typical houses

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  Playa de Martianez

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  Views of Atlantic Ocean from Puerto de la Cruz

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  Quintana Street

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  Teide seen from Puerto de la Cruz

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  Complejo Lago Martiánez

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  Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia Church

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  San Telmo Hermitage

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  All Saints Church (anglican worship)

Famous People from Puerto de la Cruz

Many notable people have connections to Puerto de la Cruz:

• Tomás de Iriarte (1750-1791), a well-known poet.
• Agustín de Betancourt (1758-1824), a talented engineer.
• Agustín Espinosa (1897-1939), another poet.
• Tom Hernández (1915-1984), an actor.
• Domingo Vega de la Rosa (born 1953), a painter known for his surrealism art.
• Andi Deris (born 1964), a German singer.
• Michael Weikath (born 1962), a German musician.
• Michael Hennet Sotomayor (born 1983), also known as Mikel, a singer from the Spanish band D'NASH.
• Sagar Prakash Khatnani (born 1983), a Spanish writer of Indian background.

Sister Cities of Puerto de la Cruz

Puerto de la Cruz has friendly connections with other cities around the world:

• Almuñécar, Spain
• Düsseldorf (since 2003), Germany
• Martinsicuro (since 2000), Italy
• Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela

See also

In Spanish: Puerto de la Cruz para niños