The first phase of the works of rehabilitation and conditioning of the historic Carta Palace, located in the central Plaza de la Candelaria, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, continue their course within the established period, despite the fact that the technicians were forced to make a stop due to the need to carry out a disinsection treatment, as well as well as installing a cistern under the aforementioned square, which has the capacity to move 60 cubic meters of water, thanks to two large pumps, to protect the building against any incident related to fire.
A resource for storing water, 10 meters long, three wide, and three high. And it is that this property, which Matías Rodríguez Carta ordered to be built, to become the family residence, and which was completed in 1742, has numerous wooden elements, both structurally and in carpentry, which are cataloged with the maximum protection.
A wood, made of tea and barbuzano, which is well preserved, which has been given various treatments, and which according to the technicians who are working on the work, which DIARIO DE AVISOS has been able to access, together with the Councilor of Infrastructure of the City Council, Dámaso Arteaga, it is the “richest carpentry than there is right now in the Canary Islands”, due to its decoration and its details. In fact, it was designated a Site of Cultural Interest in 1947, thus becoming the first property in Santa Cruz with this protection, and one of the first in the Canary Islands.
June 2022. This is the date on which the first phase of the work on this property is scheduled to be completed, which, in addition, was used in the 1950s as the main headquarters of the Banco Español de Crédito, until in 2007 it was acquired by the Government of the Canary Islands, which later ceded its use in favor of the City Council of the capital of Tenerife.
FIRST PHASE
The first phase of the work on this building dating from the 18th century, and which many call “the jewel of chicharrero heritage”, has a budget of 1,220,000 euros, and has the objective of opening the main floor to the public. A room that will have a tourist information office, a handicraft shop, bathrooms, and a historical interpretation point.
To do this, the main patio is being rebuilt and the rear part being demolished to achieve two heights and facilitate the emergency exit to Calle San José.
The latter is the most important operation of the first phase, since during the comprehensive reform of the bank in 1956, a new floor was added to bring the room to the level of the main patio. “This is the great recovery of this first phase,” say the technicians, who reveal that from Calle San José you will be able to see the natural light entering the secondary patio. Place where the bank’s security cameras were previously located, and where, in addition, a skylight had been added, with which the patio was covered and that now the forge has been discovered and lowered to its original height ”.
At the moment, the main entrance of the building is being adapted to create an access for people with reduced mobility, which will be unique in Spain, and which will have a retractable staircase, as well as an elevator. In the coming weeks, the door lintel will be raised to the height it was originally at, before the Bank changed it, and at the request of the Historical Heritage Commission of the Cabildo de Tenerife. A job, to extract the entire stone, which is “quite complicated.”
SECOND STAGE
The second phase will turn the second floor into the first history museum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. A place where the well-known Tigre Canyon will be exposed, which is said to have caused the amputation of the arm of Admiral Horacio Nelson in his attempt to conquer Tenerife. And, in addition, it will collect historical elements that have been found in the building such as furniture, bank security doors, safes and old machinery. Some works, those of the oldest building in this environment, which will tell a part of the history of the capital that many, until now, do not know.
