San Cristóbal de La Laguna
—  Municipality and city  —
Clockwise from top: University of La Laguna, Shrine of Cristo de La Laguna, Forests, Cathedral of La Laguna, Panoramic city, Iglesia de la Concepción, Consejo Consultivo de Canarias, Plaza del Adelantado and city council.
Flag Coat of arms
San Cristóbal de La Laguna Location in Spain
Coordinates: 28°29′N 16°18′W / 28.483°N 16.3°W / 28.483; -16.3Coordinates: 28°29′N 16°18′W / 28.483°N 16.3°W / 28.483; -16.3
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Canary Islands
Province	Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Government
- Mayor	Ana Oramas
Area
- Total	102.6 km2 (39.6 sq mi)
Elevation	543 m (1,781 ft)
Population (2009)
- Total	150,661
- Density	1,468.4/km2 (3,803.2/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	38200
Official language(s)	Spanish
Website	Official website

San Cristóbal de La Laguna *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Country	Spain
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iv
Reference	929
Region **	Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription	1999 (23rd Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List ** Region as classified by UNESCO

San Cristóbal de La Laguna (commonly known as La Laguna) is a city and municipality in the northern part of the island of Tenerife in the Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on the Canary Islands (Spain). The city is third-most populous city of the archipelago and second-most populous city of the island. It is a suburban area of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. La Laguna historical center was declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1999. Starting in 2003 the municipality started an ambitious Urban Plan to renew this area, that was carried out by the firm AUC S.L. (Arquitectura Urbanismo y Cooperación). The city was the ancient capital of the Canary Islands. La Laguna is physically part of the city of Santa Cruz, as both cities and municipalities, form a single large urban center, which is in the process of consolidating their union with other populations.

It is home to the University of La Laguna which is home to 30,000 students; these are not included in the population figures for the city. La Laguna is considered to be the cultural capital of the Canary Islands. Also there is in the habit of being calling the "City of the Anticipated ones", for having been the first university city of the archipelago.

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. The industrial area is made up of the main subdivisions of Majuelos, Las Torres de Taco, Las Mantecas and Las Chumberas. In this city one finds the legendary house of Catalina Lercaro spectrum, as well as the incorrupt body of sister Sor María de Jesús, and the Christ of La Laguna (Cristo de La Laguna). Another emblematic building of the city is the Cathedral of La Laguna, which is the catholic cathedral of Tenerife and his diocese (Diocese of Tenerife).

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 behind Gijon and Marbella.

Etymology

At first the place where the town was called "Aguere" by the aboriginal Guanches (the name is still used in the literature). Later he founded the city as "Villa de San Cristóbal de La Gran Laguna" (in memory of a pond or lake that was in place). Later he established the San Cristóbal de La Laguna, and today is known simply as "La Laguna" (the lake).

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted by Queen Juana of Castile on 23 March 1510, as arms of the island of Tenerife. The town of La Laguna, being the capital of the island during the first times after the Conquest, adopted this emblem as its own. It features an island with a volcano spitting fire, on waves, between a castle and a lion, and above the Archangel Saint Michael, holding a spear in one hand and a shield in the other. In the border, the inscription Michael Arcangele Veni in Adjutorium Populo Dei Thenerife Me Fecit. These elements symbolize the incorporation of the island of Tenerife to the Crown of Castile and its evangelization under the patronage of Saint Michael.

Subdivisions

• La Verdellada
• Viña Nava
• El Coromoto
• San Benito
• El Bronco
• La Cuesta
• Taco
• Tejina
• Valleguerra
• Bajamar
• Punta del Hidalgo
• Geneto
• Los Baldios
• Guamasa
• El Ortigal
• Las Mercedes
• El Batan
• Las Carboneras
• San Diego
• Las Gavias

Climate

History

San Cristóbal de La Laguna in 1880

The Battle of Aguere was fought here in 1494. The city was founded between 1496 and 1497 by Alonso Fernández de Lugo and was the capital of the island after the conclusion of the conquest of the islands. The coastal area was later raided by pirates. The University of La Laguna was founded in 1701.

A declining population and economy in the 18th century resulted in the transfer of the capital to Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1723. Santa Cruz has since been the capital of the island of Tenerife.

The Tenerife North Airport at Los Rodeos was opened in the 1930s and is today expanding with low cost airlines using it.

It was declared a World Heritage Site on December 2, 1999. Several streets of historical significance have been closed off due to automobile traffic.

Main sights

• Cathedral of La Laguna
• Iglesia de la Concepción
• Old City
• Real Santuario del Santísimo Cristo de La Laguna
• University of La Laguna

Folklores

Cathedral of La Laguna.

La Laguna is home to some of the best folklore in the Canary Islands, and the most famous folklorists are Los Sabandeños. La Laguna has created 59 folklore groups in and around La Laguna.

Holiday of the Cristo de La Laguna

It is celebrated every 14 September in honor of a much venerated image of Christ in the Canary Islands, the Cristo de La Laguna. For this event go to town People came from all over the archipelago.

Holy Week

Holy Week in the city of San Cristóbal de la Laguna is the largest of the Canary Islands. Holy Week has steps of great historical and artistic value, such as the aforementioned Cristo de La Laguna, accompanied by their guilds, some of them centuries old and which adopted the use of the hood in the nineteenth century, ride on the wheeled carts streets of the city.

Sisters cities

• Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
• Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
• Salta City, Argentina
• Miami, USA
• Sao Paulo, Brazil
• Telde, Spain
• Baler, Philippines

People

• José de Anchieta (March 19, 1534–June 9, 1597), important in the early colonial history of Brazil
• Juan Núñez de la Peña (1641–1721), a Spanish historian
• Juan Domingo de Monteverde (1773–1832), military man
• Oscar Domínguez (January 9, 1906 - December 31, 1957), Spanish painter and surrealist
• Suso Santana, footballer

See also

Spain portal

• Tenerife
• List of municipalities in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Municipalities of Tenerife Adeje • Arafo • Arico • Arona • Buenavista del Norte • Candelaria • Fasnia • Garachico • Granadilla de Abona • La Guancha • Guía de Isora • Güímar • Icod de los Vinos • La Matanza de Acentejo • La Orotava • Puerto de la Cruz • Los Realejos • El Rosario • San Cristóbal de La Laguna • San Juan de la Rambla • San Miguel de Abona • Santa Cruz de Tenerife • Santa Ursula • Santiago del Teide • El Sauzal • Los Silos • Tacoronte • El Tanque • Tegueste • La Victoria de Acentejo • Vilaflor

World Heritage Sites in Spain For official site names, see each article or the List of World Heritage Sites in Spain. North West Caves of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain1 · Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias · Roman Walls of Lugo · Route of Santiago de Compostela1 · Santiago de Compostela · Tower of Hercules North East Caves of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain1 · Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon · Pyrénées - Mont Perdu2 · Rock-Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula1 · Route of Santiago de Compostela1 · San Millán Yuso and Suso Monasteries · Vizcaya Bridge Community of Madrid Aranjuez Cultural Landscape · El Escorial · University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares Centre Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida · Archaeological Site of Atapuerca · Ávila with its Extra-mural Churches · Burgos Cathedral · Cáceres · Cuenca · Las Médulas · Rock-Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula1 · Route of Santiago de Compostela1 · Salamanca · Santa María de Guadalupe · Segovia and its Aqueduct · Toledo · Prehistoric Rock-Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde East Archaeological Ensemble of Tarraco, Tarragona · Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí · Ibiza (Biodiversity and Culture) · Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona · Palmeral of Elche · Poblet Monastery · Rock-Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula1 · Silk Exchange in Valencia · Works of Antoni Gaudí South Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada · Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias, Seville · Córdoba · Doñana · Renaissance Monuments of Úbeda and Baeza · Rock-Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula1 Canary Islands Garajonay · San Cristóbal de La Laguna · Teide National Park 1 Shared with other region/s · 2 Shared with France