History
San Cristobal de La Laguna is a universal value and exceptional design of its plane. This historic, is the archetype of the city-territory. It is the first example of non-fortified town, designed and built along a line inspired by the navigation, the science of the time. Your space is organized according to a new peaceful social order inspired by religious doctrine arising from the millennium year 1500. The city plan reads like the "star map" that the dots correspond to particular points of the city and the relationships between some of these points and everything. It has a symbolic meaning and is interpreted as a chart or a map of constellations at the time.
All this leads to 2 December 1999, the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO meeting in Marrakesh (Morocco) made public its approval of the title of World Heritage for the city of San Cristobal de La Laguna, Tenerife. The World Heritage Committee justifies this distinction based primarily on the following criteria:
La Laguna is a historic archetype of the "city-territory", the first example of non-fortified colonial city and direct precedent of the new American foundations.
It was drawn from a complex project, based on philosophical principles, realized thanks to the knowledge of navigation, the science of his time.
Its original layout, in 1500, has remained intact since its inception.
Maintain buildings around six hundred Moorish architecture.
The Laguna is a living example of the interchange of influences between European culture and American culture with which it has maintained a constant link.
This international distinction to the values of La Laguna, which recognizes it as an ideal city, city of peace, not only reward the effort made in recent years by different dicienueve government that sponsored the project, but an appreciation to all residents during these five hundred years have loved and cared for this city.
On March 23, 1510, by royal decree, Queen Juana of Castile granted the privilege City coat of arms, representing the San Miguel Archangel, which symbolizes a rock overlooking the Teide. On January 20, 1531, Charles I, by royal decree, granted to San Cristobal de La Laguna City title. Noble's epithet was granted by another royal title of September 8, 1534, while since 1964 holds further evidence of very noble, loyal, faithful and illustrious history.
One of the institutions that reflect the fullness of citizenship and of the municipal authority since the founding of La Laguna is the Island Council, meeting at first in the Church of Our Lady of La Concepcion, later in the Chapel of San Miguel and since 1547 in the town hall.
In the religious section, examples of religious architecture are found in every corner, every street, with many chapels, crosses, shrines, chapels, churches and convents, the latter starting to build in the early sixteenth century.
The Laguna is also home to ancient cultural institutions like the University of San Fernando (1792), and of ecclesiastical institutions like the diocese, established in the city since 1818. It is during this century (nineteenth century), has extended the urbanized perimeter of the city, all without affecting the pride of their history and halt its development into the future.
From the nineteenth century La Laguna, as a result of economic development in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, was undermined their privileges and prerogatives until in 1843 he lost the status of capital, which came to bear Santa Cruz. However, it retains its status as cultural capital, reinforced by the international recognition of its historic World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the day December 2, 1999.
