I
excursions
The town seen from the Valle de La Orotava
Casa Ponte Fonte in Calle Colegio, and to the right, a display of the design of the first ever Corpus Christi carpet
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farm. There are recreational and camping areas, and further footpaths which connect with the mountain trekking routes within the Parque Nacional de las Ca帽adas del Teide. La Orotava is also the home of Pinolere, which is famous for its annual craft fair attracting artesans from all over the Canary islands and which takes place early in every September. El Rinc贸n, near the coast, is an area of great interest for its countryside and agriculture, and is the home of three exotic beaches covered in black sand, El Bollullo, Los Patos and El Anc贸n. The Valle de La Orotava is an immensely beautiful area which sits at the foot of Mount Teide and extends to the sea with its green carpet of banana plantations interspersed by reservoirs and houses. This beauty was recognised by German naturalist Alexander Von Humboldt who visited Tenerife in 1799 and was literally brought to his knees by the views. Now a
mirador has been erected in the exact place from where Humboldt loved to gaze at this valley. 11 years after construction began, the Mirador de Humboldt has finally been opened. Not only a marvellous viewpoint, the Mirador also has a cultural aspect. It includes an exhibition room which could also host cultural acts such as concerts or theatrical works, a cafeteria with a terrace, a gift shop selling typical Canarian handcrafts, products and wines, and a tourist information point. To complement the Mirador further, the lower floor houses a restaurant, which specialises in Canarian gastronomy and wines, and which we will feature in a future edition of The Magazine. Finally, occupying a very special place in the precinct is a statue of the German naturalist and explorer, Alexander von Humboldt, who gave his name to this Mirador.
april 2011