Santa Cruz, 530 Years old, has experienced numerous wars and battles in its fascinating, eventful history.
On May 3, we couldn’t ignore it—a date used for place names, parks, and even a commercial center in Tenerife must indeed be significant.
History Begins in 1464
The most historic street name in Tenerife is Avenida 3 de Mayo, in the center of Santa Cruz, where El Corte Inglés is located. May 3 is the anniversary of Santa Cruz, and if you love Tenerife, then Santa Cruz must also hold a special place in your heart, and you’ll likely be interested in the historical story behind this date that is so connected to this beautiful city.
Santa Cruz is 530 years old, but its history truly begins in 1464, when Diego Garcia de Herrera, the husband of Ines Peraza, managed to secure an agreement with Guanche King Mencey Anaga to build a fort in the form of a tower at the mouth of the Barranco de Tahodio. This fortification was meant to protect the loading and unloading of boats in the harbor. However, the relationship was short-lived; the Garcia de Herrera couple was forced to leave due to multiple abuses and mistreatment of the local population.
Attack Against the Menceyes
In 1492, Governor Francisco Maldonado launched an offensive to attempt a new colonization near the beaches of Añazo, but he was defeated by the Guanches near what is now Ofra. The following year, Lope de Salazar, a sailor and slave trader, arrived on the island with a peace proposal. He succeeded in making peace with the Guanches of the Anaga kingdom, who allowed him to establish certain trade relations.
On May 1, 1494, Alonso Fernández de Lugo arrived in Tenerife and landed in two locations. He unloaded 155 horses near what is now the Hondura Dock, the only suitable place to bring live animals ashore, and landed 1,200 soldiers near the mouth of the Barranco Añazo, where he set up a military camp on a nearby beach. From there, he launched an attack against the Menceyes of the kingdoms of Anaga, Tegueste, Guimaras, and others.
Chapel for the Cross
On May 3, 1494, at the site where the army landed, a large wooden cross, carved from Galician pine, was erected. This was to symbolize the first Castilian enclave, the first Spanish overseas territory. Exposed to the weather and salt-laden winds, the cross remained standing for a long time. In 1701, engineer Miguel Tiburcio Rossel y Lugo moved it to an area known as Placeta de la Cruz, at the intersection of Avenida Marítima and Calle Bravo Murillo, between what are now the Mapfre and Unelco buildings.
In 1735, the Logman brothers, both priests, built a house in Santa Cruz to operate as a butcher shop, providing food for the poor living around the La Concepción church. The cross was enclosed by a wall on one side and a parapet on the other. This led to the construction of a chapel in 1745 to house the cross.
Ancient Relic as a Symbol
Mayor Juan de Arauz y Lordelo ordered a permanent place for the valuable and symbolic emblem of Tenerife. The chapel was named Santa Cruz o del Santo Sudario, or “Chapel of the Holy Cross and the Holy Shroud.” From that moment on, May 3 became a historically important date.
Later, the chapel fell into disrepair and eventually deteriorated into a dilapidated structure. The Franciscans moved the cross to the entrance of the San Telmo chapel, where it remained neglected and hidden until 1850. At that time, Lorenzo Siberio, a Dominican chaplain at the Hospital de Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados, took action and transferred the cross to the hospital’s chapel. He worked to inform the local population about the significance of the symbol, and from then on, the people of Santa Cruz de Añazo began to once again appreciate the ancient relic that symbolized the founding of their city.
Provincial Commission
The first procession of the Cruz Fundacional took place in 1867. From the San Telmo chapel, the cross was carried through the decorated streets of Cabo Llano, the port area. Music, dancing, entertainment, and fireworks took place in the main square, becoming an annual event. The tradition grew, especially after Mayor Emilio Serra y Ruz included the cross, the procession, and the festivities in an event calendar in 1871. The cross became famous and highly esteemed.
Rivalry arose between the municipality and the port authorities, who claimed that the “Holy Cross” and the San Telmo Chapel belonged to the island’s history. Finally, on April 19, 1876, the Provincial Commission decided that the cross would belong unconditionally and permanently to the municipality of Santa Cruz.
The Story of Nelson
On August 28, 1803, the cross became part of the heraldic shield of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. King Charles IV granted permission to incorporate it alongside the existing “Cross of Santiago,” as both crosses symbolized important milestones in Santa Cruz’s history.
The placement of the cross on Añazo beach on May 3, 1494, and the defeat of Admiral Nelson more than 300 years later on July 25, 1797, are forever commemorated in the coat of arms of Tenerife’s capital.
Unknown © Photography
Santa Cruz, 530 years old ©
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