Long ago, the La Orotava Valley, governed by the Taoro menceyato, served as the focal point of the Island where significant power was consolidated. It represented one of the nine regions that comprised the Island prior to the Castilian conquest, which extended nearly a century, from 1402 to 1496. This lush and fertile region sharply contrasted with the severity of the dry and arid terrain found in the South. The local population navigated ravines and inclines daily in pursuit of their livelihoods, and on one such slope, specifically Tamaide, situated between La Orotava and Santa Úrsula, lies one of the most significant archaeological sites on the Island.
