Journey back in time through a newly unveiled publication that vividly narrates the tale of Old Santa Cruz: the handwritten diary belonging to one of Tenerife’s most prominent families in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
The Rodríguez Cartas, esteemed merchants, Canarian militia members, and benefactors of the La Concepción parish, left behind significant architectural and artistic legacies in the city, notably the Palacio de Carta. This structure, built in 1721 by Matías Rodríguez Carta, still stands today in Plaza de La Candelaria. Designated as a Cultural Interest Asset (BIC), this building served as a meeting place for the key figures in the political, cultural, religious, commercial, and military spheres of the then town of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Historian Carmen Elisa Reyes, a descendant of the Carta family, took on the task five years ago of transcribing the contents of a handwritten notebook gifted to her by her father fifty years prior. This historical diary, passed down through generations, contains the annotations of Matías Rodríguez Carta starting from 1742 up until the final entries made by the author’s grandmother, Delfina González de Mesa, in 1862. These invaluable narratives, spanning three centuries, are now compiled in the book ‘The Five Marriage Letters’, which will be unveiled on April 3 at the very Palace where its stories originated.
Through meticulous research efforts, the author has brought this family heirloom to life with the assistance of the Tertulia Amigos del 25 de Julio, particularly with the support of Sebastián Matías, a member of the tertulia, who aided in compiling the 491-page account of the social life that once thrived in the capital of the Island.
Chronological Insights
This book serves as a treasured resource for understanding the historical development of a city closely intertwined with its port, enduring pirate assaults, clashes with English fleets, welcoming distinguished travellers and exotic goods, and navigating the influence of the Spanish Crown over this island outpost.
The Carta diary commences with Matías Bernardo Rodríguez Carta, son of the renowned palm merchant Matías Rodríguez Carta, who, after his marriage on July 18, 1734, embarked on writing the notebook to preserve the family’s history and the events of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Illustration of the Plaza del Castillo, today La Candelaria, with the Palacio de Carta. GIVES
Family tree of the Rodríguez Carta family. GIVES
Following this prologue, the diary unfolds a detailed account of historical events in Santa Cruz, replete with dates, family members, and prominent personalities of the era. These tales offer a glimpse into the Cartas’ domestic life, discussing social gatherings, managing household staff, highlighting artistic acquisitions, and marking significant life events like births and marriages.
Fátima Hernández, the director of the Museum of Natural Sciences and presenter of this exquisite manuscript, emphasises that the book delves into the lives of individuals intertwined with maritime trade, who invested their wealth in acquiring and preserving a heritage that elevated their status in the ruling class of the time. The Carta family’s possessions included magnificent residences near La Concepción church, the Palacio de los Carta, properties in La Laguna, Geneto, Arafo, and estates like Valle Guerra – dedicated to vine cultivation – where they sought solace from the city’s hustle and bustle.
Community Life
Delving into the pages of this diary, we immerse ourselves in the Carta family’s dedication to preserving images and chapels, whether at the hermitage of the Virgen de Regla or La Concepción, their sanctuaries for prayer and burial grounds. Noteworthy is the function of the Palace tower, which stood sentinel for incoming ships and alerted to potential dangers; the air thick with the scents of exports such as wine, brandy, butter, cheese, gofio, almonds, figs, mingling with cocoa from Caracas, sugar from Havana, and the aroma of tobacco from the Antilles.
The diary chronicles significant events like the construction of the Civil Hospital overseen by Domingo de Mesa, then the custodian of the Carta family diary; establishment of the city’s first butcher shop and the salting factory in Los Llanos de la Regla.
Glimpses into the past include the visit of Captain Cook in 1776, treated to a goat-based feast; storms that battered the budding pier; mysterious fish attacks leading to local fatalities; ravaging epidemics like the plague or the flu often introduced by foreign vessels; the slave trade, intertwined with extramarital escapades between city families; and the peculiar concept of communal bathing for men and women on the beach.
The Palace, a repository of countless narratives, transformed into the headquarters of the Captaincy General of the Canary Islands in 1853; serving as the Civil Government HQ in 1890 and the Spanish Credit Bank in 1946. Presently, owned by the Canary Islands Government with the City Council utilizing it as the Tourist Information Office.
