Casa Ascanio (former Hotel Victoria)

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Architecture · Subcategory: Civil architecture · Year: 1871-1901 · Authors: Manuel de Cámara

During the first half of the 18th century, Colonel Miranda had his private residence on this plot, which at that time was occupied by a magnificent house in traditional Canarian style built by the master builder Juan Alonso García de Ledesma.

By 1871 the house was already owned by Tomás Ascanio, who commissioned the public works assistant Menandro de Cámara to carry out a major renovation. The two façades facing both Candelaria square and San Francisco street were renewed externally. The technician gave it more height, restructuring the openings and arranging them orderly in a string course, following the principles of romantic classicism, as demanded by the prevailing taste of the moment, also providing a very unusual solution in the islands: the façade was made to simulate brick walls.

The heir of Tomás Ascanio, Enrique Ascanio Estévez, at the end of the 19th century and thanks to the urban remodelling of San José street (now Bethencourt Afonso), found a suitable plot of land to expand the building. Faced with this, he commissioned Manuel de Cámara, brother of the previous technician, to carry out the extension works. The architect, understanding the commercial importance offered by the plot to be filled, opted to build a splendid corner tower, reiterating the pattern of openings of the existing façade, now enriching it with vases, dripstones, acroteria and other decorative elements.

Years later the building became the Hotel Victoria and today, after having been completely transformed inside, it houses the premises of large textile department stores.

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