Monuments and Group of Buildings in Los Realejos

Municipality: Los Realejos

History

We are in El Valle de la Orotava, this time we speak about the municipality of Los Realejos. The history of the same one begins in 1946 after the conquest, in this place it finished the same one (some books comment that really it did not end here, due to the fact that still they were remaining any inhabitants rebellious, los alzados (a name that was given to this people), which they were found in the high zone of the current municipality of San Juan de la Rambla. Then the Castilians get into this territory to finish with the rebels, finishing the conquest), but in this case we praise ourselves with that it was at this site where the conquest finalized. 

The name of the municipality comes from the real word, which means the zone of encamping of the army (well it is in the camp of the Castilians, or for the camp of both armies (Guanches (original inhabitants of the Tenerife) and Castilians) at the end of the conquest).

El Jardín

After the conquest, since it would happen with the whole insular territory, the lands were distributed and this distribution was very unequal since the lands were monopolized by a minority. This municipality was possessing the most fertile lands of the island (or one of the most fertile, and they concerned to the Mencey Bencomo) that saved Alonso Fernandez of Lugo for himself. These lands are placed in  El Realejo Bajo, down Tigaiga's hillside, to an end of the ravine Godinez (this place was named by the conquerors ). Rightly to the opposite side of this ravine we find one of the first Christian temples of the island the Church of the Apostle Santiago (it is in this zone where The Menceyes were baptized, though also there are controversies since it is believed that before July, 1946 some Menceyes had already been taken to Castile and there they were baptized, being baptized some of them on the island).

The municipality was unified in 1954, up to this date they were two municipalities. El Realejo Alto y El Realejo Bajo (since it was named before, in these two places both  armies  were positioned and from there the division of the territory to later). It is in the year 1812 when both municipalities become indepent from La Laguna. 

Old Houses

The separation of these two places is carried out 1595, since the church of  El Realejo Bajo was depending on El Realejo Alto, having this one first an own priest from 1503, when it separated of La Orotava. It is in the year 1847 when both Realejos possesses them respective town halls, after several litigations.

As the whole history of the island, the zone also suffered the same transformations of the area to shelter the different products to exporting, as the sugar cane, the wine, etc. To mention also that one of the most important zones has been La Rambla de Castro (already we mentioned this place as natural heritage) and for the zone of Guindaste o El Embarcadero, products were embarking as the wood, wine, etc. In this paragraph of culture, also it is necessary to mention that in the population core  it was introduced the first papa bonita (we could named this as beautiful potatoes, in the Canary Island this a variety of potato) in Icod el Ato. 

Rambla de Castro

The principal household of the zone to shelter all these cultures were Los Principes, La Rambla de Castro and some other household which were distributed by the municipality, which they were dedicated to the culture and then export of the products. In the 18th century the major production was potatoes, wheat and maize, spending this second product in epochs in which it was scanty, being the most valued valued product, and the owners take advantage of the situation making pay the lease in species.

The major number of the population wasa  labourer, since the lands were in the hands of foreign owners. During every century there were different disputes, since in that the big landowners tried to hog  a great proportion of land or having the absolute control of sources, La Orotava wanted to have jurisdiction on two Realejos, the usurpation of the mounts, hydraulic resources, control of the water, migrations, etc. The population also was devoted to the crafts (manufacture of tiles, dresses, footwear, etc.). Also moments of the summit were lived, both economic and social, which is reflected in three convents that were built. Throughout all this time, the lands were concerned with some little ones, it was divided by the inheritors, and also the return of the Indians (people who emigrate) did that they could buy small or medium properties, doing so these lands were more distributed.

Household in El Jardín

Nowadays it is a municipality catalogued like urban, nevertheless we find zones that are dedicated to the primary sector, profession that is carried out as a secondary or complementary form of other professions.

Representative Buildings

Since already we were naming previously, there are cases in which it is possible to visit an old town  well preserved  or in that it is necessary to cross the municipality to visit the different real estates. This one is the case of Los Realejos, that though it has an old town well preserved (the case of El Realejo that it has BIC category ), but even this way there is a major number of important real estate distributed by the whole geography, that in the old town.

We divide the most important zones: 

El Realejo Bajo: It was declared BIC in 2005. The origin of this area is in the 16th century, which  is formed around to the Parish Our Lady of the Concepcion and the cottage of  The Principes. There are different houses that still remain with traditional typology, of one or two plants, with central court or wings, and some fronts were modified in the 19th century with an eclectic, historicist or rationalist language.

Old house with a balcony

Our Lady of the Concepcion : Declared BIC in 2003,belonging to the 16th century, though in 1978 the temple was completely destroyed in a fire. The Front page has an arch compile, and two arches of hewn stone in the lateral ships that were added in the 17th century. The ship of the epistle is Gothic belonging at the end of the XVIth. The front page of the gospel is about 1660.

In the interior nothing was expected, except an image of  El Rosario and La Dolorosa one of the 17th century. The church was reconstructed and was opened in 1993.

With this protection also the it is included the San Sebastian's Hermitage of 1730 by the door of hewn stone of half a point, reed-mace and restored in 1885, the chapel of the Cruz and the Municipal Cemetery (former Franciscan convent).

La Concepción

Cottage of Los Principes: BIC's Category in 2009, being one of the most important heritage of the municipality and off the island, due to the historical importance that supposed its construction for the socioeconomic evolution of the north of the island. The inner door of the entry dates back to the 18th century leading to two constructions of the 17th century and the XVIIIth, in the shape of an L and with a balcony gallery on the top floor. The current building was transformed. One of this real estate served as stable, granary, travelers' residence etc. Also we find the former constructions of the mill, with the former channels of wood and the machinery.

Los Principes

In San Agustín we find different houses about the church with category BIC, constructed in the XVIIIth. But also some of the XIX and XXth of eclectic and modernist character.

The Church of Our Lady of Carmen: In 2008 it was BIC  declared. There supports the orientation of the missing chapel the convent of Augustine, (front towards the north and headboards towards the south) (also in this lot is the current Cinema - theatre of Los Realejos). Nevertheless approximately 50 m had to be constructed for behind the line of the previous chapel, since the design of the square was forcing it. In the interior it is possible to estimate a gallery to double height, being perceived that it is a temple of three ships, though only it is a question of lateral corridors. The cover imitates the Spanish Muslims of four and knuckles, when simply it is a plaster

The door of the Church

In the Realejo Alto we find:

Parochial church of the Apostle Santiago: Declared BIC in 1983. It got up at the beginning of the 16th century. Of first structures only the principal front page of 1570 is remaining. The vain one is of round arch supported by pilasters to both sides, finished off by an Ionic capital. The Church in 1627 was on an alien ship being constructed the the ship of the Epistle later. The Tower is of ends of the XVIIth. The most important altarpiece is of baroque style of the XVIIth of Santa Barbara.

To the neighborhood of the same one there were getting up the principal housings of one or two plants, with courts in general back. Some of them still continue on foot, between more new buildings.

Apostol Santigo Church

Former Town Hall: It is a work of the architect Tomás Machado and it was constructed in the sixties of last century, having a front inspired by the beginning of the century. Nowadays it is the public library.

Muncipal library

Cinema Viera: It was constructed constructed in 1939 by Marrero Regalado (today is closed)

Cinema

The natal House of Viera y Clavijo: BIC in 1986, it is a building of the ends of the XVIIth, something rectangular and with a cover of Arabic tile to four waters. It possesses an attached shed, with a roof of Arabic tile to two waters. In the interior there were no big luxuries. The building we find it to another side of the Ravine Godinez, in the same street that takes its name, today only the front remains intact.

The house of Viera y Clavijo

 Along the municipality and in the different population centers we can find religious and civil real estate with the characteristics before mentioned (architecture of the 16th century until the XXth). According to the zone in which they are situated, urban or rural zone,  the adornments differ, but all of them are impressive.

The entrance of a House