PLAZA DEL PRINCIPE

Santa Cruz de Tenerife
- Espacios Urbanos. Plazas -

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The first steps for the construction of the Plaza del Principe in Santa Cruz were made in 1856, although we can go back to 1822, since that is when the City Council saw the need for a new public square, given the increase in population.

In 1856, the orchard that had belonged to the Franciscan convent of San Pedro Alcántara was considered the most suitable place. After the disentailment, the land had passed into the hands of private individuals, its owner then being Mr. Gabriel Pérez, to whom the Mayor, Mr. José Ruíz de Miranda, proposed the purchase of the land. The refusal of its owner postponed the project until 1857, obtaining the Mayor Mr. Bernabé Rodríguez the purchase of the orchard. The purchase-sale deed was signed on December 7, 1857 before the public notary public Mr. Gabriel del Castillo Espinosa. Don Bernabé Rodríguez paid ninety thousand reales de vellón for the purchase of the garden, which measured ninety-two thousand two hundred and forty-seven square feet, with a pond and pipes.

The works began on December 8 of the same year, demolishing the north wall. The project of the square and the alignments and slopes of the adjoining streets were entrusted to the provincial architect Manuel de Oraá y Arcocha. Said plans, dated June 14, 1860, were sent to Madrid, and were approved by the Urban Police Advisory Board on December 14, 1860. The project estimated a cost of one hundred and five thousand three hundred and ninety-one reals of fleece with forty-two seven cents.

The name of the Plaza del Principe was fixed from the beginning of the works, after receiving the news of the birth of the Prince of Asturias, three days before the work began. Later, and by municipal agreement, it changed its name to Alameda de la Libertad, after the triumph of the September revolution.

To facilitate the financing, public subscription was used, which was opened by the mayor, Mr. Bernabé Rodríguez, with four thousand reais de vellón, this being the largest contribution, in addition to the advances, which, fully lost, he made as the works progressed. The initial budget was altered, reaching a total cost of one hundred fourteen thousand seven hundred and forty-eight reales de vellón.

For the execution of the work, those confined in the prison were used, being later replaced by soldiers.

The square was inaugurated on October 29, 1860, although the work continued for many more years, receiving great impetus with the mayor Don Patricio Madam y Cambreleng.

From M.Candelaria Hdez Rodriguez. Iron Architecture in Tenerife

The configuration of the square is of the closed type, with whistling walls to the north, east and south, located at the level of Valent n Sanz street, to the west, where it is located at its main entrance.

This entrance was made up of two pilasters of canter to blue, crowned by two marble statues of Carrara dedicated to Summer and Spring.

An iron-clad wall with pilasters from canter to blue from section to section closes the square. The pilasters are crowned with marble vases. These and the vases of the entrance were donated by which to be Mayor of Santa Cruz Pedro Garc to Calveras in 1866, who had commissioned them to G nova, placed in 1867. The amount of marble statues amounted to three one thousand four hundred seventy-seven relays of vell n. Don Pedro Garc to Calveras also owes the construction of one of the steps that gives access to the square, for which he opened a subscription in 1869. The other three accesses were located on the north, east and south sides by stairs double ramp, with yellow railings and railings, according to the design of the architect Antonio Pintor y Ocete in 1904. Angel G mez and real works on the northern staircase, master of works following the traces made by Pedro Maffiotte, teacher of works and assistant of engineers. The south side was completed in 1870, with a collection made by Mayor Don Emilio Serra y Ruz.

Following the symbolic scheme of the square, there is a circular walk inscribed in another square ...

MUNICIPALITY Santa Cruz de Tenerife

AREA Centro-Ifara District

ADDRESS N Prince Square of Asturias, 1

In order to place a temple in the center of the square, the fountain was moved in the 20th century, part of it was placed partially hidden in the Garc Park in Sanabria de Santa Cruz, as a decorative element, until after the renovation carried out by The architect Juan Carlos D az -Llanos, returns to his place of origin, currently occupying one of the corners of the square, getting him back the nineteenth-century aspect, enhanced by the construction of an iron kiosk at the opposite end.

THE IRON LAMPS

Also in iron are the eight lampposts that are located inside the circular promenade. These lampposts were brought from Seville, from the San Antonio Fund, from P rez brothers. It is a unique model of high proportions, with hidden foundations. The basement, octagonal, elongated shaft and Corinthian capital. The incidence of light on the recintop is achieved by a spherical cap that crowns these street lamps. The date of its placement is unknown as well as from whom the idea started, but given the participation of Painter in the railings of the stairs (also in iron) in 1904, as well as later, in the paving of the promenade being mayor Pedro Schwartz, presumably it was the same Painter who promoted the use of iron in the lighting elements, an argument that could be corroborated by the experience that Painter has about the material.

- HERN NDEZ RODR GUEZ, MC (1989). The architecture of iron in Tenerife. Ed. Official Association of Surveyors and Technical Architects of Santa Cruz de Tenerife

- GALANTE G MEZ, M. (1984). Canarian Architecture (From the second half of the 18th century until the end of the 19th century) Ed. Edirca, Canarian Prism.