The Casa de los Capitanes hosted the unveiling of ‘La Laguna bajo las estrellas’, a novel sustainable tourist initiative aimed at promoting astrotourism within the municipality.
This was emphasised by the Councillor for Tourism, Estefanía Díaz, who indicated that this celestial gathering, scheduled for September to October 2024, is tailored for the general populace and will include prior training, lasting 30 hours, featuring webinars, in-person sessions, and subsequent excursions, thus requiring no prior knowledge of astronomy.
Díaz articulated that, “through this initiative, the appreciation of the night sky will be coupled with scientific, historical and cultural insights, blending theoretical understanding with practical experience, to provide a comprehensive and enriching journey for both locals and visitors.”
In line with this aim, ‘La Laguna bajo las estrellas’ concentrates on two principal aspects: firstly, astronomy as a discipline, and secondly, the cultural significance historically attributed to the sky, encompassing traditions and legends, as per a statement from the City Council.
“Understanding the stars and exploring how our ancestors perceived them will enable us to value our night sky even more and to deepen our connection with our identity,” stated the Tourism Councillor, emphasising the necessity of safeguarding this knowledge intertwined with our culture.
Estefanía Díaz was joined at the formal launch of this initiative by Javier González, the founder of the company Tivity, who will oversee the educational aspects and the external visits.
González underscored the significance of nurturing and fostering interest in the ever-expanding field of astrotourism.
During his address, he highlighted that Tenerife and the Canary Islands are globally acknowledged for the excellence of their skies.
Since ancient times, he remarked, “local residents have gazed at the stars, cultivating a rich worldview filled with myths, traditions and knowledge linked to celestial observation. Today, the Canary Islands are at the forefront of contemporary astronomy, and La Laguna is dedicated to enhancing community access to this knowledge, merging it with scientific advancement to enrich and elevate the astrotourism experience within the municipality.”
Among the prominent practical activities are three excursions to significant locations within the municipality: Tejina, the Blue Path in Punta del Hidalgo, and La Barranquera, which have been chosen for their outstanding conditions for astronomical observation, permitting participants to utilise the training they have undergone and connect with local folklore and traditions.
Additionally, there will be a visit to the Museum of Science and the Cosmos, and an online platform will be established providing supplementary content, resources, questionnaires, and areas for knowledge sharing to participants.
The training is entirely free, but to ensure active engagement and commitment, a nominal fee of 5 euros will be requested, which will be donated to a local NGO of the participant’s choosing.
Moreover, individuals who successfully complete at least 75% of the scheduled activities will receive a certificate of completion for the learning programme. Registration is currently open via the website of the responsible company (www.tivity.es).
