Quiet excursion around Santa Cruz de La Palma

An historic city

Santa Cruz de la Palma is a city with important architectural and artistic heritage. It was one of the main ports in the Canaries, where merchants came to trade from all over the world: Holland, Italy, England, Ireland... This means that it has an interesting collection of works of art that have come from different parts of the world (including America). You have time to enjoy the colonial architecture, the craftwork and the gastronomy.

Shopping in the city

Once we reach Calle O'Daly (known as Calle Real), we find countless shops selling craftwork from the island. It is a pretty and pleasant cobbled street, very close to the port. Here you can buy produce from La Palma cuisine, including its cakes and pastries. La Palma is the sweetest island on the Canarian archipelago (make sure to try "rapaduras" and "almendrados"). You can also buy a souvenir of the island in the many craftwork shops on the same street.

The Renaissance square

A pleasant walk along Calle O'Daly will take you to Plaza de España. This area contains the best example of Renaissance architecture in the Canaries: the town hall façade (from the reign of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V), the Renaissance fountain (the only one on the seven Canary Islands) and the entrance to the Church of El Salvador. We will also see the statue to Manuel Díaz (a priest who was persecuted for his liberal ideas who died in 1863) and some of the main stately homes in the city.

Church of El Salvador

It has an interesting collection of works of art (Mon–Fri 10 a.m.–8.30 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.–2 p.m. and 6 p.m.–8.30 p.m.; Sun 8.30 a.m.–1 p.m. and 7 p.m.–8.30 p.m.). There are important Flemish carvings (Saint Louis, King of France, etc.) and works by the Canarian painter of religious images Fernando Estévez (Cristo del Perdón, etc.). Also of interest are the main altarpiece (Antonio María Esquivel), the Carrara marble font (the oldest of this kind in the Canaries) and the in Mudejar style ceiling – the most beautiful on the archipelago.

Relaxation + coffee

Time to relax. Calle O'Daly and Calle Pérez de Brito (the city's main streets) bustle with tourists and residents alike and their appeal is added to by a large number of cafés with terraces where we can sit down. There are a variety of cafés for visitors to choose from all along both streets. Besides coffee, if you would like to try something from the island, we recommend ordering a local island artisan beer, cheese roasted with mojo sauce, pork cracklings, etc.

Zona Comercial Abierta del Casco Histórico Santa Cruz de La Palma - galeria2

Sustainability

- Never leave waste of any type lying around, including cigarette butts. Leftover food leads to a proliferation of rats and wild cats, which pose a serious threat to the fauna.
- Use the waste- paper baskets and, insofar as possible, separate and place your recycling waste in the appropriate containers.
- Do not throw any waste or other objects into the sea.
- Respect the animals. Do not bother them or feed them. If you see an injured specimen, you can call the emergency number: 112. Do not pick flowers or plants.
- Do not pick up or take away stones or any other item from the natural environment. And do not move them to pile them up into sadly famous 'towers'.
- In natural spaces and at viewpoints, do not leave the trail or the spaces designated for people to be in.
- Respect and look after the area's historic and cultural heritage, along with the public furniture and items for visitors, such as information panels or telescopes and binoculars.