El Tanque – Nature, Cultural Heritage and Holiday Apartments in Tenerife

More than 60 percent of the area of El Tanque consists of protected natural areas. The Reserva Natural Especial del Chinyero covers 1,059.5 hectares within El Tanque, the Acantilados de La Culata protected area covers 61.1 hectares, and the Parque Rural de Teno covers 200.9 hectares.

Nature

The Mirador Lomo Molino is located at an altitude of 640 metres and is easily accessible by road. From there, you can see Tenerife’s north coast and, on clear days, Mount Teide and the island of La Palma. The viewpoint is part of the island-wide network of viewpoints operated by the Cabildo de Tenerife. The El Lagarito viewpoint offers views of Garachico and Isla Baja, as well as visual access to the protected Acantilados de La Culata area.

Trails

The route to the Charcas de Erjos passes by the Ecomuseo de El Tanque; it is considered very easy and is recommended for spring. The SL-TF 151.2 hiking trail leads into the Reserva Natural Especial del Chinyero, through the centre of El Tanque and its historic old town, and onwards to the Mirador de La Atalaya on the border with Garachico.

Within the Reserva Natural Especial del Chinyero lies the Área Recreativa de Puerto Escondido, a 3,500-square-metre recreational park. The facility is stated to have a capacity of 100 people; it also offers step-free access and a children’s area.

History

The Ecomuseo de El Tanque presents an exhibition about life in the historic Partido de Abajo, featuring information panels, audiovisual media, virtual reality and interactive elements. The visit takes you through nine rooms covering the origins of the hamlet, its historical context and the everyday lives of its inhabitants. Reservations are required for visits by large groups, such as schools, organisations or educational institutions.

Las Partidas de Franquis is an archaeological zone in El Tanque and is classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural. The zone is located in the Cañada de los Ovejeros at the foot of the south-eastern slope of Montaña de Tomás Seche. The site included a small stone with an alphabetiform engraving in the shape of a podomorph; the artefact is now held at the Museo Arqueológico de Tenerife.

The Iglesia de San Antonio de Padua is classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the Monument category. It originated as a chapel founded in the 16th century, was destroyed during the 1706 eruption of the Trevejo volcano and rebuilt in 1728.

In the historic centre of Tanque de Abajo stands La Alhóndiga, a rectangular, two-storey building from the 17th century. It originally served as a grain store and later became an economic and social centre for the surrounding area. La Alhóndiga lies within the protected surroundings of the Iglesia de San Antonio de Padua, which is classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural.

Built Heritage

The Casa de los Martelos is a 17th-century building that survived the 1706 eruption of Montaña Trebejo. Its façade is horizontally divided and features a central wooden balcony, characteristic of the traditional architecture of the period.

El Granero is a group of homes representative of rural Canarian architecture, dating from the period of the first Castilian settlements in El Tanque. The homes were built using local volcanic stone, Canarian pinewood, also known as tea wood, and curved roof tiles.

The Ermita de San José de los Llanos is an 18th-century chapel in El Tanque. Its walls are made of volcanic stone, complemented by Canarian pinewood, also known as tea wood, and a roof of Arabic tiles.

The historic washing places, Lavaderos de La Atalaya, are located at the Mirador de la Atalaya in El Tanque and are considered the town’s ethnographic heritage. They are supplied by a natural spring with four water outlets and comprise around twenty washing stones. The Lavaderos can be reached via a newly laid paved path with a pronounced incline.

Traditions

The Día de La Trilla began in 1996 and is celebrated at the end of July on the grounds and in the hamlets of the Ecomuseo in the district of San José de los Llanos. Agricultural and cultural traditions of the town are presented there. The Feria de Artesanía takes place at the beginning of August on Avenida Príncipes de España and showcases local craft traditions. A tradition of artisanal cheese production has also been documented in El Tanque.

Another location linked in the accompanying selection of places is Ruigomez.

For the overarching travel overview: Tenerife.

More destinations

More places under the same destination:

Ravelo, San Juan del Reparo, Güimar, Los Realejos, Trevejos, La Esperanza, Las Mercedes.