La Laguna revives, at least for a few days, the essence of daily life in the city during the early 19th century. The Deán Palahí alley has been transformed into a historical tunnel that transports visitors back to the years between 1808 and 1814, providing insights into traditional trades and notable high society figures of the period. This recreation was inaugurated yesterday as part of the festivities marking the 25th anniversary of La Laguna’s designation as a World Heritage City by UNESCO, an event that featured various activities to honour this significant milestone, including dramatized tours, noon salutes, the ringing of bells throughout the city, and an institutional gathering at the Teatro Leal, among others.
This historical tunnel is established in the cobbled Deán Palahí alley, which links Plaza del Adelantado with Viana Street and stretches between the monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena and the Nava palace. It is open for visits until next Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Entry is from Plaza del Adelantado, with free admission granted until the maximum group capacity is reached, allowing visitors to navigate through the tunnel before making way for the next group.
The initiative was officially opened yesterday by the mayor, the socialist Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, alongside the Councillor for Cultural Heritage, Adolfo Cordobés, the historian and populariser Néstor Verona, and numerous council members. “Today we commemorate 25 years since the declaration with the unveiling of this Time Tunnel. We aim to raise awareness among residents about the significance that this city has held throughout history, and what better occasion than today,” stated the president.
This recreation draws inspiration from the War of Independence when Spain battled against France following Napoleon’s incursion into the Peninsula. During that time, a power vacuum emerged in the Canary Islands, as the governor and captain general went off to war, while Napoleon ousted the king of Spain, replacing him with his brother, Joseph Bonaparte. “In response to this misrule, the nobles of La Laguna, led by Alonso de Nava y Grimón, Marquis of Villanueva del Prado, along with several members of the Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country of Tenerife, established the Supreme Board of the Canary Islands, a provisional governing body during the duration of the conflict,” elaborated Néstor Verona yesterday.
Traditional Occupations
Within this historical backdrop, the Deán Palahí alley brings to life everyday scenes of La Laguna from that era, showcasing occupations such as the winemaker, the pinochero who supplies pine needles for the nuns’ mattresses, the gangochera, the washerwoman, the milkmaid travelling to Santa Cruz, the basket maker, the hatter, and the butcher, along with various stalls, tools, utensils, and some animals. Each character shares with visitors their daily tasks, anecdotes, and stories, intertwined with the political occurrences of the time.
Among the prominent figures of high society during this period, the Marchioness María del Rosario Pérez de Barradas y Fernández de Henestrosa is depicted with two nieces dressed in the attire of the tapadas, women who, when venturing outside, would cover themselves with different garments to conceal parts of their bodies and faces, leaving either both eyes or just one visible. This practice, which was banned by Charles III in the 18th century, endured in the town until the mid-19th century.
Several of the characters and occupations depicted. | Photos: Fran Pallero
This historical tunnel in Aguere is a result of an initiative promoted by the Departments of Cultural Heritage and Rural Development of the La Laguna City Council. The recreation is being carried out by Troysteatro, in collaboration with Ubaldo Vestimenta Tradicional for the setting and costumes, as well as the support of the monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena.
