Culture of La Palma. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

If you want to explore the island, the best idea is to start with its capital, the small town of Santa Cruz. The most picturesque place in town is Dali Street where you can find the most famous architectural attraction - the Salazar Palace. Built in the 17th century, it has survived to this day virtually unchanged. An architectural landmark of an earlier period is the Church of the Holy Light dating back to the 16th century. Among other remarkable sites of the capital is the Town Hall, as well as the wonderful Constitution and Spain squares.

A real city attraction is the Tobacco House, which occupies a beautiful historic building. Travelers are attracted by the building's exterior, while locals come here for the best cigars in town. All guests of the island must visit the Caldera de Taburiente National Park opened in 1954. In the middle of the nature reserve, there is a crater of an extinct volcano whose diameter reaches 8 kilometers - everyone is welcome to admire the beautiful landscapes.

Visitors to the park can stroll through the most picturesque places and climb to the top of Pico de la Cruz, which offers a beautiful panoramic view of the island. Gorge of Barranco del Agua is a local attraction of world significance. The reserve was opened to the public quite recently, today tourists have the opportunity to stroll through the old laurel forests and admire the beautiful waterfalls. No less fascinating will be a tour of the area of La Zarza where archaeological excavations have not stopped for several decades. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The main discovery of scientists is mysterious rock drawings. One theory is that a settlement of the first inhabitants of the island, the Benahoaritas, was located here. The drawings' meaning is still a mystery to humanity but one thing is clear - this unique attraction attracts thousands of curious travelers every year. The archaeological area has a science center and a museum presenting a collection of priceless artifacts. After exploring the exhibits, visitors are invited to watch a documentary about the life and cultural traditions of the first settlers. The mysterious and fabulously beautiful island of La Palma will surely appeal to fans of exciting tours and walks in picturesque places.

A great place to get aesthetic enjoyment is Plaza La Glorieta built of volcanic stone. On the floor, you can see a wonderful mosaic depicting local flora and fauna. And all this is in the midst of beautiful flowers, thanks to which the air is saturated with the incredible aroma of tropical plants. Nearby there is a souvenir shop where you should definitely go if you want some material proofs of the beautiful time spent on La Palma to remain from the trip. It is worth noting that this is also one of the favorite places of tourists who want to take amazing pictures. The wonderful attraction can be found in Quatro Caminos.

In Santa Cruz de La Palma, you can visit a wonderful open-air museum that tells the Canary Islands' navigation history - it is called Museo Naval - Barco de la Virgen. Christopher Columbus himself once sailed on one of the exhibits presented here. A great place to explore the local history and culture is the Museo de la Seda las Hilanderas in El Paso. In addition to national costumes, here you can see how locals use the weaving machine to create clothes. Look at the artifacts found at excavation sites throughout the island in the Museo Arqueologico Benahoarita (located in Los Llanos de Aridane). Besides, here one can learn a lot of interesting facts about the origin of the island and find out what archaeologists think about the many unexplainable things happening on the island.

The already mentioned Caldera de Taburiente is also known for Observatorio Roque de los Muchachos, the place that seems to be the top of the world. Equally amazing are space views of the astronomical observatory and the panorama of a "science town" lying in the midst of picturesque green landscapes. The observatory was founded in 1985 with the support of European countries, and in terms of quality of the microclimate necessary for this kind of scientific centers, it is second only to Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii. Get acquainted with winemaking traditions of La Palma in the Casa Museo del Vino Las Manchas located in Los Llanos de Aridane.

As for wonderful places to walk, it is worth mentioning a street in Santa Cruz de La Palma - Avenida Maritima lined with charming houses with colorful balconies decorated with flowers. Tourists can't help but envy those who can see this beauty every day. A special place in the local cuisine is occupied by bananas, so much so that even a separate museum is devoted to the fruit (Museo del Plátano de Tazacorte located in Tazacorte). It will be interesting here not only for small tourists but also for adults who can learn about how bananas grow and what can be cooked from them (it must be said that these are not only desserts). You can also go on a tour of the banana plantation Ecofinca Platanologico in order to learn new information and admire the magnificent views at every step.