Camino de las Lecheras

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Memory · Subcategory: Historic sites · Year: S. XIX

The Camino de las Lecheras was a path along which women from the Mercedes area and valleys adjacent to La Laguna carried milk jugs on their heads along winding trails to Santa Cruz, beyond the reach of the toll inspectors.

These women, to cushion the enormous weight of the load (40-60 kg), placed a piece of cloth (ruedo) inside the crown of their straw hats. They wore white blouses, long petticoats, black overcoats and blue canvas skirts. The money collected was kept under their white apron, in a pocket sewn to a ribbon, between the skirt and the petticoats.

Their route usually started from the Cruz de los Álamos in Las Mercedes, climbed the slope of Gonzalianez, crossed the Bronco and Lomo Largo paths, crossed the valley of las Chozas and, after crossing the Carmona ravine, descended through the Mesas forest, alongside the Jiménez ravine, and flanking the Roque and Boca del Andén, crossed the Goteras gullies until reaching Cueva Roja, already in Santa Cruz. From here they entered the city passing through the Salamanca, Duggi, etc. neighbourhoods, until reaching the old market, next to the Teatro Guimerá.

This path was for a long time the connection between Valle Jiménez and Santa Cruz, with the consequent flow of goods; but with the establishment and improvements of the road, the trail almost fell into disuse. Nowadays it is frequented by local hunters who use it as a training area for their dogs, and some walkers who usually include it in their excursions around the Metropolitan Area.

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