Something for Everyone
coming to the Canaries
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Something for Everyone
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La oratava
The Villa de la Orotava (pop. 37,000) lies on the banana plantations of the Valley which bears its same name and in the area of the island origionally inhabited by the Guanche's, hundreds of years ago. Unless coming from Puerto de la Cruz, you approach La Oratava from above so you get a spectacular birds-eye view of the town and the La Oratava valley.
The town itself was founded in the 16th century. Of all the towns I visited on the island, this was by far the best for so many reasons; not heaving with traffic, beautiful buildings, parks and squares and amazing views of Teide or down to the ocean from many parts of the town.
Keep heading uphill and you'll find the old historic centre - declared monument of artistic national interest. The Concepción Parish Church is also a national monument. I'm told the buildings are fantastic examples of renaissance, baroque, mudejar (arabic), neoclassicist, electic and modernist. I can verify that, lots of different types and all very nice indeed to look at! Head towards the church in the historic quarter and you'll also find several craft and culture shops/museums to have a good look round.
The town's botanical garden - "La Hijuela del Botánico" has more than 3,000 different tropical and sub-tropical plants from South and Central American, Africa and Australia. Down towards the coast there's three dark-sand beaches - El Bollulllo, Martín Alonso and El Rincón - which are rarely crowded. In the surrounding countryside and plantations there are many walks which lead all the way up to the forests and Teide.
