Transporting us back in time, a previously unseen publication is shedding light on the history of Old Santa Cruz. The handwritten diary, belonging to one of the most influential families of 18th and 19th century Tenerife, provides intricate details of the past.
The Rodríguez Cartas, known for their roles as merchants, members of the Canarian militias, and patrons of the parish of La Concepción, left a lasting legacy in the city. Their primary residence, Palacio de Carta, built in 1721 by Matías Rodríguez Carta, still stands tall in the current Plaza de La Candelaria. Designated as a Cultural Heritage site, this building once hosted key figures driving political, cultural, religious, commercial, and military affairs of the then Lugar, Fuerte y Puerto de Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Historian Carmen Elisa Reyes, a descendant of the Carta family, took on the task of transcribing a handwritten notebook passed down through generations in her family. This historical diary, chronicling the writings of Matías Rodríguez Carta from 1742 to the final entries by the author’s grandmother, Delfina González de Mesa, in 1862, is set to be unveiled in the book “The Five Marriage Letters,” to be presented on April 3 at the same Palace where it was originally penned.
Following years of intensive research, the author, with the help of Tertulia Amigos del 25 de Julio and particularly Sebastián Matías, successfully compiled 491 pages detailing the social life of Tenerife’s capital at that time.
Timeline
This book serves as a precious resource for understanding the city’s chronological evolution, intertwined with its port activities, resilience against pirate attacks and conflicts with English fleets, interactions with renowned travelers, and exotic goods arriving from distant lands. It also sheds light on the city’s alignment with the Spanish Crown’s directives controlling activities in this island enclave.
The Carta diary commences with Matías Bernardo Rodríguez Carta, son of the esteemed palm merchant Matías Rodríguez Carta, who initiated the lineage. In his opening entry on July 18, 1734, he writes: “Today, the day after my wedding, I commence penning this diary. Should God bless me with offspring, I wish for them to be familiar with the family’s history and some significant events in the Place, Fort, and Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.”
Illustration of the Plaza del Castillo, known today as La Candelaria, featuring Palacio de Carta. GIVES
Family tree of the Rodríguez Carta family. GIVES
Following this introduction, a vivid recounting of dated events and noteworthy personalities from Santa Cruz unfolds in the diary. Stories beckon the reader to immerse themselves in the Carta family’s daily lives within their homes, where social gatherings occurred, daily routines were discussed, staff management strategies were devised, religious ceremonies were held, familial events were deliberated, marriages were announced, and acquisitions of artistic treasures were celebrated.
The forthcoming presenter of this exceptional manuscript, Fátima Hernández, Director of the Museum of Natural Sciences, notes that the book delves into “characters closely associated with the port and maritime trade, who invested a portion of their wealth in acquiring and enhancing a heritage that elevated them to the aristocracy at that time.” Among their possessions were exquisite residences near La Concepción church, including Palacio de los Carta, properties in La Laguna, Geneto, Arafo, and estates like Valle Guerra – primarily dedicated to vine cultivation, where they sought solace from the city’s hustle and bustle, as the population in the area began to solidify.
Community Life
Within this journal lies a glimpse of the Carta family’s generosity in tending to images and chapels, be it at the hermitage of the Virgen de Regla or La Concepción, sanctuaries where they sought solace for prayer or to lay their dear ones to rest. Notably, the significance of the Palace tower is highlighted, serving as a lookout for ship arrivals or warning of perils, where the scents of wine, brandy, butter, cheese, gofio, almonds, or figs traded with other nations mingled with aromas of cocoa from Caracas, sugar from Havana, or the fragrance of tobacco from the Antilles.
The narrative also records key events such as the establishment of the Civil Hospital, overseen by Domingo de Mesa, the curator of the Carta diary at the time; the introduction of the city’s first butcher shop, and the creation of a salting factory in Los Llanos de la Regla.
Moments like the visit of Captain Cook in 1776, who enjoyed a goat-themed luncheon; the storms affecting the budding pier; attacks by mysterious sea creatures claiming the lives of locals; ravaging epidemics like the plague or cold, often brought in by foreign vessels; slave trade transactions, interspersed with extramarital escapades among city families; and the intriguing concept of gender-neutral beach baths for men and women are only a few glimpses encapsulated within this manuscript, a vital lens into Santa Cruz’s bygone era through the Carta family.
The grand Palace, a repository of countless narratives, evolved into the headquarters of the Captaincy General of the Canary Islands in 1853; in 1890, it housed the Civil Government, and by 1946, the Spanish Credit Bank. Presently, it is under the ownership of the Canary Islands Government, with the City Council utilising it to house the city’s Tourist Office.
