SHORT DESCRIPTION OF SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE  

Since its declaration as provincial capital in 1822, it has been the commercial, administrative and port centre of the island.

In the north, there is "Rural park of Anaga", a spectacular tertiary forest of laurisilva with small populations and agrarian lands. In the northeast, there have been small rural and fishing neighbourhood establishments that,in the last years have suffered some transformations because of the beach "Las Teresitas", the most important in visitors. This entire zone is under a big modernization process with the tourist urban project designed by the French architect Dominique Perrault, thanks to an international contest.

The highest density of population is in the historical town centre and in the new zone where the city is growing. The city has had in the southwest a curb on the growth with one of the biggest industries, the refinery, that there was far from the centre some years ago. This means that the move of the refinery in medium / long term is our challenge.

The outlying neighbourhoods of Santa Cruz are the economic rehabilitation priority of the Sociedad de Desarrollo, looking for adapting the old structures to the current way of life, the citizen needs ( environment quality, public services, transports,…)

Our city is right now an interesting socio-economic enclave in the globalisation era that we are living in. The main reasons that support the competitive advantages of our city and of course our island are the excellent infrastructures: two international airports, with direct connections with the most important European and American cities, and also with the north and west of Africa; the main port of the island, where the most important part of the goods import come in and about 5 million tourist arrive per year. The main reasons for these tourists to come to our city are the commerce, the weather and the landscape. Santa Cruz is one of the most important stops for the cruises between Europe and Caribbean.

All these points consolidate Santa Cruz de Tenerife as an open, modern and dynamic city, excellent enclave for economic and cultural transactions between the three continents (America, Europe and Africa).

Nowadays, the city is under a development process with projects as: the Auditorium (www.auditoriodetenerife.com), where the Classic Music Festival of the Canary Islands takes place (www.festivaldecanarias.com),the International Congress and Fair Centre that includes the World Trade Centre of Tenerife (www.iftsa.com).Both building are Santiago Calatrava´s projects.

In the same way , there are very important projects under construction, Insular Culture's centre "Eduardo Westerdalth", made by Herzog & Meuron that will include new facilities as the insular library "Alejandro Cioranescu", the Contemporary Art Institute "Oscar Domínguez" and the new insular Photography Centre. For more details about the cultural heritage and other interesting tourist information, you can visit http://www.turismosantacruz.com, or http://www.sctfe.es/aytosc/santacruzciudadatractiva two tourist guides about Santa Cruz and http://www.sctfe.es:81/website/BUSCAR_CALLES/viewer.htm the street directory of the city.

In the other hand, a new infrastructure construction has began, "The tram system" that will connect the city with the Tenerife North airport and all the north zone of the island.

One of the most important events is the Carnival declared as interesting international tourism Festival. For more information about main leisure activities which taking place in Santa Cruz, please visit the Leisure and Tourism Guide of Santa Cruz http://www.hoy-today.com.

The main impulse of the economy is the service Sector, integrated by a great number of enterprises that cover the different economic needs of the municipality. For more economic information, please visit the following website http://www.negociossantacruz.com.

The main figures of Santa Cruz de Tenerife are:

Population: 224.779

Men: 108.498

Women: 116.281

Source: official list of inhabitants of the town council

Surface: 150, 56 Km2

Population density: 1.492,95 inh. / Km2

Source: P.G.O. (July 2004)