Back in 1953, when the technical team of La Laguna City Council drew up plans for the “modern” Avenida de La Trinidad, their main goal was to establish a link with the northern highway (now TF-5) and make this road the main entrance and exit of the city. This plan did not include the idea of creating a ring road that would encircle the historic centre for its protection. Fortunately, the extension of the avenue to Plaza del Cristo was never completed, contributing to the preservation of the historic centre of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, now a designated World Heritage Site since December 2, 1999.
Avenida de La Trinidad commences at Herradores Street and stretches for 750 meters until it reaches the Glorieta del Brasil “Padre Anchieta”, a roundabout that eases the traffic flow to TF-5.
The avenue takes its name from the hermitage of La Trinidad, an edifice attached to the residence built by Colonel Don Baltasar Peraza de Ayala (El Realejo Bajo, 1701-1770). The Colonel’s grand three-storey house, constructed in 1769 along with the adjacent hermitage, are the only remaining buildings of historical significance along this avenue, as most of the smaller, single-storey houses have vanished.
Prior to the urban development of Avenida de La Trinidad, there was merely an unpaved road that began at Herradores, crossed Game Street, and then connected with Cathedral Street (previously known as Taoro Road).
Avenida de La Trinidad Unveiled on July 6, 1961
After several delays, mainly due to the demolition of a mansion towards the end of the road, the construction of this avenue was finally completed on July 6, 1961. At that time, it served as both the entrance and exit point for vehicles coming from the city centre and the northeastern areas of the municipality. However, following the construction of Vía de Ronda and the conversion of the historic centre into a pedestrian zone, the avenue no longer serves its initial purpose of vehicle entry and exit.
The land left vacant after the mansion’s demolition, a distinctive building with stained-glass windows that marked the entrance to the former La Trinidad street, was later used by theatre companies of María Teresa Pozón and actress Catalina Bárcenas, a Cuban residing in Spain. The circus also made annual visits to the area before relocating to Plaza del Cristo. Unfortunately, once the Telefonica facilities were established in Plaza del Adelantado and the old site on Avenida de La Trinidad, the city lost its theatrical entertainment.
Starting from 1970, urbanization efforts began, leading to the construction of several residential blocks and the formation of the current Polígono Padre Anchieta. This urban development expanded the city centre significantly, lining it with parallel streets like Heraclio Sánchez, Pablo Iglesias, and the newly created road.
The A-GO-GÓ Club: Shaking Up Pop and Rock Music in La Laguna
On the left side of the avenue, within one of the three buildings constructed by entrepreneur Miguel Ángel Pérez Castellano, the story of the “Club A-Go-Gó” unfolds, revolutionizing the youth music scene in Tenerife and La Laguna. A group of university students sought permission from the owner to host dance events in one of the premises. Following the success, led by Jesús Esteban Beltrán, the group expanded the concept by involving Canarian musical groups named “The Shadows” and “The Rhythmics”, inaugurating the first “Club A-Go-Gó” on March 6, 1966.
In May of that year, for its reopening, the English musical group “The Tomcats” took the stage for three days. The excitement surrounding this group garnered widespread attention from the local media. El Día newspaper on May 20, penned by journalist Elfidio Alonso, noted, “Some English boys, long-haired and musically talented, have caused a commotion in the city. They are called ‘The Tomcats’. Six of them. Possibly six votes for Harold Wilson…”.
Witnessing the immense success, the venue owner decided to expand the facilities into a nightclub in the basement of the adjacent building. The inauguration of this new venue on October 12, 1967, featured performances by “The Mysterious Ones” and the English group “The Locomotion”.
Thus, the club emerged as the focal point of the rock scene in the Canary Islands, drawing huge crowds of over 1,500 people every Sunday afternoon. Bands like “Los Types”, “Los Rebeldes”, “Los Gritos”, and “Los Blizzard”, alongside “The Mysterious” and “The Shadows”, paved the way for pop and rock music on the islands. Notable artists like Teddy Bautista, creator of the group “Canaries”, also graced the stage during his military service in Tenerife.
Towards the end of Avenida de La Trinidad, nestled within the University Central Campus, stands the old Chemistry Tower, now renamed Professor Arévalo Tower in honour of the esteemed professor of the Faculty of Chemistry, Don Agustín Arévalo Medina. The tower now houses a business incubator, the General University of La Laguna Foundation, and its Language Service.
Upon completion of the avenue, the bus stop previously located in Doctor Olivera Square was relocated to accommodate services by Transportes de Tenerife connecting Santa Cruz and Norte de la Isla. Other services, like Transportes de Las Mercedes and Transportes Palazón (later VIMAR), were also rerouted. A new bus interchange in La Laguna now serves as the central hub for all transportation services.
Lastly, the Tenerife tram, operational since June 2, 2007, connects Santa Cruz and La Laguna, with a line extending from the transport interchange in Tenerife’s capital to Avenida de La Trinidad, enhancing public transportation services. Additionally, a taxi rank has been set up along this street.
