Garachico is a beautiful town full of history. And we’re not the only ones saying it. Its value is recognized by its designation as a Site of Cultural Interest in the Historic Ensemble category by the Government of the Canary Islands in 1994, its Gold Medal of Fine Arts awarded in 1980, and its inclusion on the list of the Most Beautiful Villages in Spain, among other distinctions.
Strolling through Garachico is a journey of slow discovery, revealing the treasures hidden within one of the most iconic and best-preserved historic quarters in the Canary Islands. You’ll come across stately manor houses—like the one that now hosts our hotel—convents, churches that guard treasures within, and the Castle of San Miguel, a survivor of the Trevejo volcanic eruption, which once defended the town from pirate attacks during the golden age of this port.
Explore the Town and Port of Garachico
Today, let yourself wander through Garachico’s timeless streets. Slow down, take in the charm of every façade, and imagine a different era—when carriages carried wealthy merchants, and horses pulled carts filled with barrels of Canary wine, ready to be shipped across the seas on galleons anchored in the bay.
Step into the story of one of Spain’s most beautiful villages: Garachico.
The Heart of Garachico
The Manor House of the Marquises of La Quinta Roja
If you’ve had the good fortune to wake up within these centuries-old stone walls, you are now part of the living history of one of Garachico’s most important buildings: the Manor House of the Marquises of La Quinta Roja, a prime example of Canarian Baroque domestic architecture.
You’re among the lucky few who can wander its interiors—climb its noble stone staircase, admire its ancient tea wood balconies that have stood the test of time, or ascend to the ajimez, where the Marquis once watched the ships arrive in the port. Perhaps you’ve awoken beneath the Mudejar coffered ceilings of the upper rooms, where the Marquis and his family once lived.
A Manor House Steeped in History
The location of this building—facing the Town Hall and surrounded by the Church of Our Lady of the Angels, the former Convent of San Francisco, and the Stone House, residence of the Counts of La Gomera—reflects the importance of its first owner: Don Cristóbal Ponte y Llarena, the first Marquis of La Quinta Roja and a direct descendant of Garachico’s founder, the Genoese banker Don Cristóbal Ponte.
Construction of this house began in 1689, during the golden age of the Town and Port of Garachico. After the devastating volcanic eruption of 1706, which severely damaged the port and much of the town, commercial activity shifted to the ports of La Orotava and Santa Cruz. With it, many of the island’s most influential families also relocated—including the Marquis of La Quinta Roja, who generously offered this house for several years to the Poor Clares after their convent was destroyed in a major fire.
The Former Convent of San Francisco and the Church of Our Lady of the Angels
Your journey through the history of Garachico begins the moment you step through the entrance of our hotel. To the left of the Glorieta, framed by three slender palm trees, you’ll find the Church of Our Lady of the Angels and the former Convent of San Francisco. Construction of the convent began in 1524 on land donated by Don Cristóbal Ponte—the founder of this town—to the Franciscan Order. Next to the land stood a small chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Angels, owned by Don Cristóbal himself, which later became part of the monastic complex.
On the façade, you’ll notice two twin doors adorned with stonework. The one on the left leads to the Chapel of the True Cross (Capilla de la Vera Cruz), a side chapel commissioned in the 17th century by the brotherhood of the same name, which included members of Garachico’s most prominent families.
Next to the bell tower is the main entrance to the Church of Our Lady of the Angels, where Don Cristóbal Ponte and his wife, Doña Ana de Vergara, are buried.
Mass is held here on the first Friday of every month at 6:30 p.m.—a unique opportunity to enter and admire its interior, as the church opens only for religious services and special occasions.
The Convent of the Two Cloisters
The former Convent of San Francisco is a two-story building featuring two spacious cloisters made of tea wood. We highly recommend walking through them—admiring the balconies, wooden columns, gargoyles, and the stone staircase covered by a beautifully crafted Mudejar coffered ceiling.
After the Mendizábal Disentailment in the 19th century, the convent was secularized and today serves as a cultural venue. It houses the public library and municipal archives, as well as several permanent exhibitions: Canary Islands, Volcanoes in the Ocean; Historical Photographs of Garachico; and a Collection of Shells, Fossils, Minerals and Rocks by Professor Walter Haehnel.
Each year in late May, during the Canary Islands International Environmental Film Festival (FICMEC), one of the cloisters is transformed into a cinema, with a temporary roof covering the courtyard.
The Stone House
The stately home of the Counts of La Gomera—popularly known as The Stone House—stands out at one end of the Glorieta. Its striking black stone façade and finely carved columns framing the entrance are sure to catch your eye.
It was built by master stonemasons brought over from Gran Canaria.
This manor house is another of Garachico’s architectural landmarks. It was built in 1666 by order of one of the noble families from Castile and later passed into the hands of the Counts of La Gomera through marriage alliances.
The building suffered severe damage during the volcanic eruption of Trevejo in 1706 but was later rebuilt following the original design.
Today, it has been restored by the Town Council and serves as an art space, although there are plans to convert it into a museum dedicated to the Garachico eruption. Inside, you’ll find a series of panels telling the story of the house and its past.
Liberty Square
Just across from the Stone House lies the lively Plaza de la Libertad, once part of the orchards belonging to the Marquis of La Quinta Roja’s estate.
At its heart stands a charming music pavilion, designed in 1912 by Don Ramón Arocha, inspired by a model he discovered in Mexico and wished to recreate in his hometown.
Its surrounding café tables are always in demand—a favourite gathering spot for both locals and visitors.
Simón Bolívar and Garachico
At one end of the square stands a statue in honor of Simón Bolívar, the Liberator of the Americas. Garachico has a deep connection with Venezuela, as a significant part of its population emigrated there over the years.
The monument was commissioned in 1970 by the Friends of Garachico Association in Venezuela and sculpted by Juan Jaén, a renowned artist from Gran Canaria.
Recent genetic studies have confirmed that Simón Bolívar was a direct descendant of Cristóbal de Ponte and carried Guanche blood, the result of an extramarital relationship between the founder of the town and an Indigenous woman named Juana Gutiérrez. This historical connection further strengthens the enduring bond between Garachico and Venezuela.
From here, you can continue your walk toward the Church of Santa Ana, whose bell tower presides over the square.
Main Parish Church of Santa Ana
The Parish Church of Santa Ana began construction in 1532 and is considered one of the most beautiful and richly adorned churches in northern Tenerife. It was severely damaged during the volcanic eruption and later rebuilt following the original architectural plans.
Inside its harmonious interior stands an outstanding 17th-century artwork: The Crucified Christ by Martín de Andújar, a Sevillian sculptor who settled in Garachico. The piece was later polychromed by the Flemish painter Juan Excroft.
This lifelike and intensely dramatic sculpture occupies the central place on the main altar.
The Corn Christ
Another of the church’s treasures is the altarpiece and image of Christ of Mercy, a 16th-century work crafted by the Tarascan people of Michoacán, Mexico, using corn paste. This image inherits the ancestral techniques used by Indigenous Mexicans to create representations of their pre-Hispanic deities. These figures, made from lightweight materials, were easy to transport—even to the battlefield.
After the arrival of the Spanish conquerors, these techniques were adapted to Christian iconography, giving rise to what are now known as “Corn Christs.”
The Christ of Mercy is deeply venerated in Garachico. It is carried in procession every Holy Week and during the town’s Lustral Festivities, held in its honor every five years.
The Port of Garachico
La Puerta de Tierra
The volcanic eruption of 1706 devastated much of the town and its once-thriving port, dramatically altering the landscape and economy of Garachico, and cutting short its promising future.
In the Parque de los Poetas, at the foot of the mountain where traces of the lava flows are still visible, and several hundred meters from the sea, stands a powerful reminder of how the eruption of Trevejo reshaped the Port of Garachico.
La Puerta de Tierra, now located inland in the heart of a charming tropical garden, was once the main gateway through which all goods and people entered and left the bustling Port of Garachico.
As you stroll through the garden, you’ll also come across an old wine press—a reminder of Garachico’s historic role in the production and export of the renowned Canary wine.
Overlooking the space stands the bust of the Genoese banker Cristóbal de Ponte, who helped finance the conquest of Tenerife and went on to found the town of Garachico.
The Castle of San Miguel
Now walk the path from La Puerta de Tierra to the current shoreline. As you go, you’ll notice how much land was gained from the sea by the lava flows.
Let your imagination take flight and picture the bay as it was in the 16th century, when ships from Africa, the Americas, and Europe lined up to load and unload their cargo.
From the seafront promenade, you can admire San Miguel Castle, built in 1575 to defend the Port of Garachico from the increasing threat of pirate attacks.
The Guardian of Garachico
This square-shaped fortress displays several coats of arms above its entrance, including the heraldic emblem of Emperor Charles I of Spain and V of Germany—father of Philip II, who also adopted the same symbol.
The only castle ever built in Garachico still stands today. A survivor of the volcanic eruption and a silent witness to the town’s long and storied past. Once the guardian against pirate attacks, it now houses a Heritage Information Centre where visitors can learn about the Arenas Negras volcano.
The Old Pier
Garachico’s bay was once a natural harbor, perfectly sheltered and strategically positioned. During the 16th and 17th centuries, it became the main hub for trade between Tenerife and the Americas, Africa, and Europe—turning Garachico into the island’s economic capital.
This thriving port led to a flourishing period of economic and cultural growth. At its peak, Garachico boasted a castle, a hospital, five convents, several churches, and numerous manor houses.
However, after the volcanic eruption, the port was rendered unusable. Trade routes shifted to the ports of La Orotava and Santa Cruz, triggering the town’s economic decline.
The pier we see today was built after the eruption and still preserves its original paving stones.
The Door Without a Door
At the end of the pier stands the sculpture Tensei Tenmoku (The Door Without a Door) by Japanese artist Kan Yasuda.
Carved from Carrara marble, the piece was originally intended for the Ramblas de las Tinajas in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, as part of an open-air collection of works by international sculptors. After the city’s mayor rejected the installation, Yasuda returned to the island in search of a new setting—and found it at the breakwater of Garachico’s pier. “There’s no better place for one of my sculptures than this,” he said upon seeing it.
Over time, the sculpture has become a symbol of Garachico, and one of its most photographed and beloved spots.
The Fires of the Cliff
If you turn your back to the sea, you’ll see the slopes of the mountain still marked by ancient lava flows. This dramatic setting becomes the stage for one of the most iconic events of Garachico’s Lustral Festivities, taking place this summer: Los Fuegos del Risco (The Fires of the Cliff).
Fiery balls roll down the mountainside, recreating the rivers of lava that descended during the eruption of the Trevejo volcano in 1706.
The night ends with a spectacular pyromusical show that lights up the entire bay.
A spectacle that has transformed one of the most dramatic episodes in the town’s history into a display of beauty—turning Garachico into a symbol of resilience.