The Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife within the Canary IslandsMap of the municipalities of the Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, alsoProvince of Santa Cruz (Spanish:Provincia de Santa Cruz de Tenerife), is aprovince of Spain, consisting of the western part of theautonomous community of theCanary Islands. It consists of about half of theAtlantic archipelago: the islands ofTenerife,La Gomera,El Hierro, andLa Palma. It occupies an area of 3,381 km2 (1,305 sq mi). It also includes a series of adjacent roques (those of Salmor, Fasnia, Bonanza,Garachico andAnaga).
Its capital is the city ofSanta Cruz de Tenerife (commonly known asSanta Cruz), on the island of Tenerife (Spain's most populous island[1]). At the start of 2023 the province had 1,067,173 inhabitants and a density of 315.6 /km2, making it the province of Spain with the sixth highest population density, higher than that of theprovince of Las Palmas (the eastern half of the Canary Islands). 19.6% live in the capital,[2][3][4] Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which is also the capital of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands. There are 54 municipalities in the province; seeList of municipalities in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Tenerife is the most populated island of the Canary Islands and most populous island of Spain. In addition, the island also has the highest altitude of Spain and all of theAtlantic Islands (Teide 3718 m).
Earlier issued vehicle license plates in this province bear the first two letters "TF" (named after Tenerife). Nowadays the plates share the same numberingsystem as in mainland Spain.
This province was established in 1927, when the Canarias province (withSanta Cruz de Tenerife as the capital city) was divided into two provinces:Las Palmas and the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. In 1982, both provinces became part of the newly founded autonomous community of the Canary Islands.
Mount TeideBasilica of Our Lady of CandelariaAuditorio de Tenerife
Mount Teide: is a volcano on Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Its 3,718-metre (12,198-foot)-high summit is the highest point in Spain, the highest point above sea level in the islands of the Atlantic, and it is the third highest volcano in the world measured from its base on the ocean floor, afterMauna Loa andMauna Kea located inHawaii.[5] The volcano and its surroundings comprise theTeide National Park, is also one of the most visited National Parks in the world, with a total of 2.8 million visitors, according to the Instituto Canario de Estadística (ISTAC). The park has an area of 18,900 hectares (73 sq mi) and was named aWorld Heritage Site byUNESCO on 29 June 2007.[6]
Auditorio de Tenerife: Was designed by architectSantiago Calatrava Valls, construction began in 1997 and was completed in 2003. The auditorium was inaugurated on 26 September of that year with the presence ofFelipe de Borbón, Prince of Asturias, and was later visited by former U.S. PresidentBill Clinton. The building is framed within the tenets of late-modernarchitecture of the late 20th century. The majestic profile of theauditorium has become an architectural symbol of the city ofSanta Cruz de Tenerife.[7] It is also regarded as the finest modern building in the Canary Islands[8] and one of the most emblematic buildings ofSpanish architecture.
TheBasilica of Our Lady of Candelaria (inCandelaria): The place where the image of theVirgin of Candelaria (saint patron of the Canary Islands) can be found, this sanctuary is built in neoclassical style, and is visited daily by the parishioners, who visit the Villa Mariana out of devotion to the Virgin. Is the first Marian shrine of the Canary Islands, the principalcatholic center of peregrination of the Canary Islands[9] and one of the principal ones of Spain, the basilica hosts more than 2,5 million visitors annually.[10][11]
San Cristóbal de La Laguna: The third-most populous city of the archipelago and second-most populous city of the island. Its economy is business-oriented while agriculture dominates the northeastern portion of the city. The urban area dominates the central and the southern parts. Tourism covers the northern coast. The main industry includes some manufacturing. La Laguna historical center was declaredWorld Heritage Site by theUNESCO in 1999. In 2010 after a survey, La Laguna was listed as the city with the best reputation in the Canary Islands and the third no provincial capital city of Spain with the best reputation, but behindGijon andMarbella.[12]
Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre: Is amuseum based in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, it contains many significant archaeological finds and is considered the best repository of objects from the Prehispanic Canary Islands. The museum also houses significantpaleontological,botanical,entomological and marine and terrestrial vertebrate collections, in an excellent state of preservation, and is considered the best Natural Library of the Canary Islands. The museum also integrates theArchaeological Museum of Tenerife, the Bioantropología's Canary Institute and the Museum of Natural Sciences of Tenerife. The museum is located in the downtown area of Santa Cruz, in the former Civil Hospital, abuilding that constitutes an example of theneoclassical architecture of Canary Islands. The archaeological section was founded in 1958. The museum holds the largest collection on the culture of theGuanche[13] and also has one of the most modern methods of presentation of mummies, (announced in 2006 by theCabildo de Tenerife through a communique).[14] It is also an internationally renowned museum and has participated in international meetings onarcheology, but its fame is mainly due to its formidable collection ofGuanche mummies.[15]
Los Cristianos: Is a town situated on the south coast of Tenerife. Located in the municipality ofArona between the cone of the mountain Chayofita and the greater mountain Guaza. The town centre is around the Los Cristianos bay, but is rapidly expanding inland with modern development. The town is a popular tourist resort and includes a ferry port.
Puerto de la Cruz: Is a city and municipality located on the north coast of Tenerife, in theOrotava Valley. Prior to the development of hotels and buildings, much of the area consisted of agricultural land. Considerable fiscal pressure led to the land being developed and the population shifted from rural to urban and tourism. The population is mainly urban today.
.svg)
