La Noria Street

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Architecture · Subcategory: Squares, streets & markets · Year: Siglo XVI

The original name of this street was Las Norias, although today it officially bears the name of Antonio Domínguez Alfonso, who was a deputy in the Cortes for Tenerife. It is one of the oldest streets in the town, as it formed part of its founding nucleus.

In 1557 the island's Cabildo carried out a distribution of plots to encourage the construction of houses among the increasingly numerous local residents, and one of the main areas to benefit was this one of Las Norias. This name refers to the wells and norias (water wheels) that existed there with the purpose, after the flow of the nearby Barranco de Santos proved insufficient, of supplying both the population and the surrounding orchards. 

This street was the scene of fierce battles between Tenerife defenders and the British forces who in 1797 under the command of Vice-Admiral Nelson attempted to take the city. A section of those troops, led by Captain Samuel Hood, advanced along this route until they entrenched themselves in the old Santo Domingo convent, a space now occupied by the Teatro Guimerá and the Recova Vieja, where they were besieged until their final surrender. It was also one of the first streets in Santa Cruz to have gas lighting in 1843.

La Noria Street preserves the best collection of historic buildings in the city. Here we can observe old residences of distinguished families such as the Verdugo family or Casa del miedo , alongside more modest ones occupied by liberal professionals, officials, military personnel and artisans. At the beginning of the street, near the Church, the instructive and recreational society El Progreso was established in 1855; a little further up, around 1863, the first literary salon known in Santa Cruz took place, with participants including Agustín Guimerá, Ramón Gil Roldán, Francisco María de León and a young Nicolás Estévanez, among others.

After years of neglect, the street today has become one of the liveliest areas of the city with numerous businesses dedicated to catering and nightlife established there.

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