By the close of the 18th century, the Villa de Santa Cruz lacked a communal area for locals to stroll. In response, the captain general of the Canary Islands, Miguel de la Grúa Talamanca, Marquis of Branciforte, seized the opportunity of a barren lot adjacent to Muelle beach and proposed to the residents the creation of a public garden, mirroring those found in larger cities, to enhance the town’s entrance. The local populace contributed to its establishment, as indicated by the plaque placed atop the central arch of its entrance, noting that “It has been financed by the generosity of the distinguished citizens of this neighbourhood, inspired by good taste and a desire to unite their community for ‘my own recreation’.
The Alameda, inaugurated in 1787 under the guidance of military engineer Andrés Amat de Tortosa, comprised a rectangular area measuring 79 metres in length and 17 metres in width, enclosed by a stone wall topped with wooden posts.
Its aesthetically pleasing façade featured a portico 20 metres wide and 9 metres high, constructed with a central arch surmounting a stone shield displaying the Royal Arms of Charles III, along with two side arches that flanked white marble sculptures symbolising Spring and Summer. Each arch was fitted with its own iron gate, while plaster urns adorned the tops of the buttresses.
The garden’s three paths converged in a central square, which housed the Dolphin Fountain, crafted in Genoa from Carrara marble. A life-sized sculpture representing time was positioned at the rear. The walks were splendidly shaded by Lebanon plane trees and tamarinds, which marked the initial 81 trees to offer shade in Santa Cruz. Interestingly, the Alameda never featured poplar trees.
The expenses related to cleaning and upkeep were funded by water rights from the boats, with the supply point located along the avenue adjacent to the beach. Over time, the Alameda has been referred to as Branciforte, in honour of its founder; Duke of Santa Elena, commemorating Alberto de Borbón y Castellví, captain general of the Canary Islands; April 14, marking the proclamation of the Second Republic; La Marina or del Muelle, due to its proximity to the port; and Los Paragüitas, named after the parasols of the kiosk situated there.
Recreational Space
This area, regarded as a prime vantage point for observing the bustling port activities, quickly transformed into a gathering place for merchants and shipowners, as well as a leisure spot for the Santa Cruz locals. During tranquil evenings, they would stroll to the melodies of musical performances by the military band and the amateur band La Bienhechora, which performed on a stage situated at the rear of the venue. Additionally, the Santa Cecilia Philharmonic Society often hosted concerts aimed at raising funds for completing their headquarters (now the Parliament of the Canary Islands).
In 1860, the Alameda was nearly lost due to the municipality’s lack of funds for its maintenance; however, when the State sought to widen access to the dock – the Boquete – and planned to demolish the façade of the Alameda, the City Council asserted that “while humble, the Alameda is a noble legacy built by our ancestors with their own money, also serving as a site where ladies stroll in summer after their sea baths, from which they would be deprived.” Fortunately, during a fair organised in its premises in commemoration of the festival of Santa Bárbara, the patron saint of the artillery corps, the locals initiated a public subscription, alongside competitions and cockfights. With the €14,000 raised, they restored the façade, cleaned the statues, and the marble shield that crowned the entrance. They also installed six streetlights, illuminating the walks with ten light sources each night except on moonlit evenings, complemented by a lantern tree from Seville positioned in front of the main entrance.
In 1901, the City Council demolished the 2.70 metre high wall facing the sea, replacing it with balustrades and removing the western enclosing wall, thus widening Marina Street.
In 1916, after the elegant three-arched façade was dismantled, its components, all made of Carrara marble, faced mixed fortunes. The shield found a place in the Military Museum, the allegorical sculpture representing Spring is now exhibited in the courtyard of the School of Fine Arts, while the sculptures of Summer and Time were relocated to García Sanabria Park, although their current locations remain unknown. The doors were donated to the Asylum.
In 1838, owing to the continuous popularity of the Alameda, which could not adequately accommodate the neighbourhood’s summer visitors, the commanding general of the Canary Islands, the Marquis of Concordia, constructed an additional promenade at the end of Calle de la Noria, bearing his name, although it did not resonate well with the locals and eventually fell into disuse.
Renovation
With the refurbishment of the Plaza de España undertaken by architects Herzog&DeMeuron in 2008, the former three-arched entrance that had been lost in 1916 was rebuilt, the flooring was laid with albero, a children’s play area established, and spaces were designed for fairs, exhibitions, and markets. The Dolphin Fountain, however, retained its original location.
Recently (2024), a series of upgrades have been implemented to enhance accessibility and walkability, including the replacement of pavements, as well as improvements to the sanitation and tree irrigation systems.
