Canary Islands' Art and Architecture: A Guide to Tenerife, Gomera, and El Hierro
Ludovico Pratesi explores the often-ignored western Canary Islands—Tenerife, Gomera, and El Hierro—highlighting their contemporary art, architecture, and vibrant cultural backgrounds. In Tenerife, you can check out the Auditorio de Tenerife by Santiago Calatrava (2003), Parque Marítimo César Manrique (1995), and the Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA) by Herzog & De Meuron (2008). The TEA is currently featuring "Rebeldía y disciplina," showcasing Canarian art from 1918 to 2025. Also, don’t miss Teide National Park, the historic La Laguna (established 1496), and Orotava with its Casa de Los Balcones (1632). Gomera is home to Garajonay National Park and the unique silbo gomero whistling language. El Hierro is the smallest island, featuring the Mirador de La Peña and other attractions.
Key facts
- Auditorio de Tenerife designed by Santiago Calatrava, built in 2003
- Parque Marítimo César Manrique designed by César Manrique in 1995
- TEA (Tenerife Espacio de las Artes) designed by Herzog & De Meuron in 2008
- Exhibition 'Rebeldía y disciplina' at TEA covers Canarian art from 1918 to 2025
- Teide is Spain's highest mountain at 3,178 meters
- La Laguna founded in 1496, first capital of Tenerife
- Casa de Los Balcones built in 1632 in Orotava
- Garajonay National Park on Gomera is a UNESCO World Heritage site with laurisilva forest
- Silbo gomero whistling language reintroduced in schools in 1999, UNESCO-protected since 2009
- Arbol Garoé on El Hierro replanted in 1957
- Mirador de La Peña on El Hierro designed by César Manrique
- Ecomuseo de Guinea & Lagartario on El Hierro features bimbache houses and giant lizard conservation
Entities
Artists
- Giovanni Ozzola
- Santiago Calatrava
- César Manrique
- Herzog & De Meuron
- Beatriz de Bobadilla
- Cristoforo Colombo
- Ludovico Pratesi
Institutions
- Cabildo
- Università di Tenerife
- TEA (Tenerife Espacio de las Artes)
- Tate Modern
- Museo de Historia de Tenerife
- Casa de Los Balcones
- Bodegas Tajinaste
- Molino de Gofio La Maquina
- Parador de la Gomera
- Parador de El Hierro
- Ecomuseo de Guinea & Lagartario
- Unesco
- Amazon
- Artribune
Locations
- Canarie
- Tenerife
- Gomera
- El Hierro
- Santa Cruz
- La Laguna
- Orotava
- San Sebastián
- Valverde
- La Frontera
- Teide
- Garajonay
- El Sebinar
- Faro de Orchilla
- Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Los Reyes
- Spagna
- Atlantico
- Europa
- Caraibi
- Antille
- Islanda