Restoration of Mirador La Centinela to Create Archaeological Interpretation Centre
The Mirador La Centinela will be restored and transformed into an interpretation centre linked to the archaeological heritage of the Abona region, specifically focusing on the rock art sites in the area. To facilitate this, the Cabildo de Tenerife has approved the contracting of restoration works for this infrastructure located between the municipalities of San Miguel de Abona and Arona. The restoration will involve an investment of €1.4 million and is expected to be completed within nine months.
Strategic Objectives of the Project
The plan for the project aims to promote awareness and enhance the value of the archaeological heritage of the southern region of Tenerife. It seeks to improve the conservation of archaeological sites by establishing management mechanisms that enhance their monitoring through public use. The project also aims to enrich the cultural tourism offering in southern Tenerife, generate educational and instructional resources for schools and the wider community, and contribute to the socioeconomic development of the region by creating employment, including skilled roles related to archaeology, according to the island government.
Historical Context
The Cabildo constructed Mirador La Centinela at the end of the last century, under the supervision of the Tourism department, then led by Pilar Parejo, and it remained unused for several years. This neglect led to ongoing complaints from the local governments of Arona and San Miguel de Abona. It was in the early years of this century that the facility was finally managed with the opening of a restaurant on the premises, which operated until 2018.
Cultural and Geological Significance
Mirador La Centinela is located at the 85-kilometre mark on the southern main road (TF-28). The area is geologically significant, with evidence of its cultural richness marked by numerous archaeological sites beneath the Roque de Jama, such as rock engravings and small basins or hollows carved into the tuff with channels used by the indigenous people for their rituals. The importance of this site led the Government of the Canary Islands to designate the Roque de Jama-La Centinela space as a Cultural Asset of Interest (BIC), classified as an Archaeological Zone in 2018.
Government Support
The president of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, stated that this restoration “represents an opportunity for socioeconomic development in the middle regions”, as it generates jobs and encourages the involvement of qualified professionals in archaeology and heritage management. “Today we can say we are closer to restoring La Centinela to the deserving place it should have: a cultural, landscape, and social reference that connects the past and present, memory and identity, knowledge and development,” Dávila affirmed.
Collaboration for Restoration
The rehabilitation of Mirador La Centinela represents a long-awaited initiative and has secured cooperation from the Government of Canarias, along with the municipalities of San Miguel de Abona and Arona.
Objectives of the Rehabilitation Project
The objective of the rehabilitation project is to “activate and enhance a resource that holds significant potential both from a heritage standpoint, as it is situated in the area of the greatest uniqueness and archaeological diversity on the island, as well as from an economic perspective.” This will involve the complete refurbishment of the building, along with the installation of the aforementioned archaeological interpretation centre in the lower level of the Mirador La Centinela.
