The comparison holds true when it comes to the remote and secluded village of Taganana, its relationship with Santa Cruz of Tenerife resembles that of the Canary Archipelago with Europe: an outermost region. Taganana, nestled quietly among mountains, is situated far from Santa Cruz and the rest of the island.
This distinctive location and its rich history have contributed to shaping its unique character and narrative, setting it apart from all other towns in Tenerife. Consequently, it’s not surprising that the inhabitants of this charming hamlet have, in the past, nurtured dreams of independence, even taking actions towards that goal. Indeed, exactly two centuries ago, Taganana, along with its neighbour San Andrés, boasted its own town hall established under the Constitution of Cádiz of 1812.
However, economic constraints led Taganana to request integration into Santa Cruz in 1850. Interestingly, just nine years later, Taganana’s residents once again petitioned for the restoration of their town hall, only to be rebuffed. A century later, in 1868, a revolutionary municipal council was formed, lasting until 1877 when Taganana was eventually annexed to the capital. Nonetheless, it retained its mayor until 1967 and upheld its own judicial system and civil registry until 1976.
This represents just one of the many intriguing historical anecdotes that make this small Santa Cruz town a true gem of the island, blending natural beauty, antiquity, and a wealth of ethnographic and heritage assets unlike any other place. Taganana has been a settled community since before the island’s conquest, bearing a name of Guanche origin.
Some scholars link its name to the term “anagan,” meaning “surrounded by mountains,” or to “taganan,” which translates to “climb” or “hill.” After Tenerife’s conquest in 1496, the allocation of lands among conquerors and settlers commenced. Taganana was founded in 1501 from one of these allotments, with a small group of settlers from Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. By the 16th century, along with San Andrés, it stood as the principal centre of Anaga, boasting its own parish from at least 1505 and a mayor from 1518. Right from the start, its lands were dedicated to sugar cane cultivation, prompting the construction of the Las Vueltas road to ease product transportation.
This road played a pivotal role in massif communication, linking Taganana to San Cristóbal de La Laguna, the island’s capital at the time, and extending to other massif valleys like San Andrés, El Bufadero, and Afur, among others. The current road to Taganana was only built in 1968, providing easier access and diminishing its centuries-old seclusion, which has spawned numerous legends. One of the most renowned is the origin tale of the town’s patron saint. According to tradition, a local named Gregorio Tabordo discovered the image of the Virgin of the Snows on the El Cardonal coast during a storm in the 16th century, abandoned by a ship evading the tempest. Nearly 500 years later, the Virgin of the Snows remains the protector of this rural paradise, hidden and serene amidst the mountains of its birthplace.
