During her inaugural visit to the Island aboard the ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’, the heir to the Spanish throne explored various streets in the capital, including stops at the Military Museum of the Canary Islands and the Capitanía palace.
Daniel Millet
Santa Cruz de Tenerife 18 JAN 2025 16:05
The Princess Leonor, heir to the throne, seized the opportunity presented by the stop of the Spanish Navy training vessel, the Juan Sebastián de Elcano, to discover for the very first time the streets of central Tenerife.
This Friday, following the ship’s arrival, residents of the Tenerife capital encountered the Princess within the vibrant streets, including Teobaldo Power, Plaza Weyler, Méndez Núñez, and Calle del Pilar, among others.
Accompanied by a select group of the 76 midshipmen aboard the Juan Sebastián de Elcano, the Princess enjoyed her first day in Santa Cruz de Tenerife visiting the Almeyda barracks, located in the lively chicharrero district of El Toscal, which is home to the Military Historical Museum of the Canary Islands.
Within the ancient fortress, the Princess explored an array of documents and military artefacts that narrate the rich history of the Islands, including plans and models of significant military actions in the Canary Islands throughout various epochs. Within the museum’s premises, she delved into centuries of history during which navigation positioned the Islands as a crucial stopover towards newly discovered territories and oceans.
After concluding their visit to the museum, the Princess and several midshipmen proceeded to the Palace of the Captaincy General of the Canary Islands, where they were warmly welcomed by the lieutenant general and head of the Canary Islands Command, Julio Salom, along with the commander of the Juan Sebastián de Elcano, Luis Carreras-Presas do Campo.
They also had some leisure time to walk along some of the prominent streets of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, visiting notable spots such as García Sanabria Park, Weyler Square, and the lively shopping streets surrounding Castillo Street.
The following Saturday morning, the Princess remained aboard the training ship of the Spanish Navy, which was hosting an open day, although she was not spotted on deck, until she departed by vehicle around 11:30 a.m. These encounters were classified as private activities by the Royal Family, and further details were not disclosed.
Meanwhile, hundreds of residents from Tenerife queued eagerly to tour the facilities of the Juan Sebastián de Elcano, which during this visit experienced its most publicised stopover in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, thanks to the presence of the heir to the Spanish throne engaged in her training voyage on the Navy vessel.
