‘Windmills in the Memory of San Cristóbal de La Laguna’ Combines Testimonials, Research, Historical Images, and Ethnographic Dissemination
The historic Teatro Leal hosted the presentation of the documentary “Windmills in the Memory of San Cristóbal de La Laguna” yesterday. This project, initiated by the Cultural Heritage department, was first screened for the elderly residents of the municipality, who filled the auditorium in an event that blended historical dissemination, social recognition, and the recovery of collective memory. The Mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, the Cultural Heritage Councillor, Adolfo Cordobés, and over 200 attendees participated in this gathering, intended as a platform to share memories, experiences, and knowledge related to the local windmills and the traditional production of gofio.
The documentary, lasting 52 minutes, is directed by Teresa Velázquez and produced by Carlos Calato, both of whom were responsible for the original concept. The cinematography was handled by Teresa Ruano and Carlos Calato. The film combines interviews with historians and millers from the three operational mills in La Laguna, alongside historical photographs, contemporary audiovisual resources, AI-generated recreations, and on-site explanations.
The narrative spans from the Guanche windmills, animal-powered mills, and water and wind-driven infrastructures to the current activities focused on the artisanal production of gofio. This is represented in La Laguna by Gofios La Molineta in the town centre, La Fuerza de Voluntad in Las Mercedes, and Molino de gofio Raúl in Tejina. All of these are small family businesses, with some boasting a continuous history of over 150 years.
The Mayor emphasised that this documentary “centres on an identity element that has accompanied La Laguna for centuries, yet often remains overshadowed by other more visible heritage. The windmills, from the Guanches to the three still functioning in our locality, represent a technology, an economy, and a way of life that have shaped our territory, our food, and our popular culture.”
In addition, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez highlighted the strategic importance of the project to “raise awareness of the need to preserve the three operational mills, family-run businesses that have been passed down through generations and are integral to the cultural and economic fabric of La Laguna.”
The Cultural Heritage Councillor, Adolfo Cordobés, affirmed that this work “recovers that historical and ethnographic dimension with a rigorous approach, supported by sources and research. It contributes to balancing the perception of the municipality, renowned internationally for its urban layout and architecture, while also possessing an immaterial and productive heritage in need of visibility and dissemination.”
Cordobés remarked that the documentary “reinforces the public role of the Council as an agent that not only protects material assets but also researches, documents, and transmits knowledge about living cultural practices.”
Moreover, the Councillor for Social Welfare, María Cruz, underscored the social character of the event and the decision to focus the first screening on the elderly residents of the municipality, “guardians of the living memory of the windmills and gofio, not as abstract symbols, but as everyday elements of their diet and community life. The direct experiences of the elderly provide nuances that are absent from archives, enriching the historical narrative with memories, anecdotes, and familial ties that are essential to our identity.”
The producer of the documentary, Carlos Calato, expressed gratitude for the institutional support and the audience’s warm reception. He highlighted the importance of working with popular memory as a source of knowledge. “This project stems from respect for traditional crafts and for the individuals who have kept them alive. The millers, their families, and those who have grown up around these spaces are the true protagonists of this story,” he stated.
Calato, who is also recognised for his ethnographic documentary work focused on crafts such as stone masonry, village musicians, and the historical significance of washhouses, emphasised that “La Laguna preserves an exceptional milling heritage that needed to be told with accuracy, sensitivity, and closeness.”
Open Access Content
The documentary “Windmills in the Memory of San Cristóbal de La Laguna” will soon be available on the official YouTube channel of the Council and on the municipal website, with the aim of facilitating access for all citizens and promoting its educational and dissemination use.
With this presentation, the Council reaffirms its commitment to the protection and dissemination of cultural heritage, both material and immaterial, and to the active participation of citizens in constructing the collective memory of the municipality.
