This Wednesday, the Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, visited La Laguna alongside the city’s mayor, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, to assess the progress of various heritage restoration initiatives within the historic centre. The governmental representative was joined on the visit by the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosario Sánchez, and the Government delegate in the Canary Islands, Anselmo Pestana, along with several councillors from the municipal council.
The minister reaffirmed the commitment of the Spanish Government to the rehabilitation project of the old convent of Santo Domingo, which has received a grant of 3 million euros from the Ministry of Tourism following an agreement signed with the Group of Heritage Cities of Humanity of Spain, to which La Laguna is affiliated.
Mayor Luis Yeray Gutiérrez expressed gratitude to the minister for his visit and his awareness of the projects being undertaken, highlighting the significance of maintaining strong relationships with the central administration “to promote the initiatives that this municipality has been advocating for quite some time.” He announced that work on the final two phases of the recovery project for the old convent is set to commence in 2025. This intervention will focus on the southern section of the property, affecting the secondary cloister, its galleries, and the entire expanse between the convent and the current building of the Treasury Delegation.
The mayor shared that the architect in charge of the works, who led the guided tour of the facilities, has confirmed that “after 35 years” the rehabilitation of the old convent is nearing its completion. “We are preparing to present the final project, we will issue a tender, and shortly, in 2025, it will be awarded to the successful company,” he mentioned.
Jordi Hereu described “linking tourism as a lever to enhance and modernise our historical heritage” as one of the key strategies within his department. He explained that a very significant element of the recovery plan and all related investments in tourism policy involves directing resources towards projects such as this monastery. “For us, it is crucial to showcase and share our rich tradition and historical legacy with the world,” he affirmed.
“La Laguna possesses many other qualities. It boasts a strong academic tradition, and its urban planning, dating back to the 16th century, already represented an impressive feat of urban design. I believe these distinctive attributes enhance the quality of our tourism proposition,” the minister explained, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to tour this city, which is part of the network of Heritage Cities in Spain.
Jordi Hereu commenced his visit at the remnants of the old church of San Agustín, which was destroyed by fire in 1964. Rehabilitation work has already resumed to ensure that this open-air space becomes an integral part of La Laguna’s cultural heritage, soon to reopen its doors to the public with all necessary safety measures in place.
Subsequently, the minister proceeded to the City Council’s Plenary Hall to inscribe his name in the Golden Book of the Consistory, officially documenting his visit to the city. “A benchmark city for its urban quality, historical heritage, and academic tradition, it stands as a splendid example of why Spain excels in tourism,” he remarked.
Santo Domingo Rehabilitation Initiative
The final destination outlined on the agenda was the historic convent of Santo Domingo, where the final two phases of its rehabilitation initiative are set to commence next year.
At the start of this summer, the City Council of La Laguna announced the commissioning of the drafting for the execution project, alongside the management of the construction for these rehabilitation activities, at a cost of 100,580 euros. This action was vital for updating the project originally conceived in 2018.
The initiative is already under the watchful eye of the Historic Centre Management service, which is part of the Municipal Urban Planning Management, and is now subject to oversight by the Insular Historical Heritage Service of the Cabildo de Tenerife.
