Adeje
Return: 473[Costa Adeje], then a choice of 483[El Medano] to Las Abrigos or 111[Santa Cruz] to Las Chafiras or any bus to Los Cristianos then 470[Granadilla] to Los Abrigos.
Hola – Buenos Tardes
Amigos,
I was
puzzled about the business of Costa Adeje/Las Americas appearing on
the timetables and there also being a destination of Adeje
(pronounced Adeke)which is in a different place on the other side of
the motorway. It turns out that 'Costa Adeje' came about because of
the development of the first resort complex of Las Americas. As this
was thought to be the major destination the Bus Station was built
there and work on the MagMa centre commenced, of course Los
Christians expanded the area east and development west to 'La Caleta'
makes a virtual continual coastal resort. The whole of this coastline
is within the boundary of the Kingdom or Menceyatos of Adeje ruled
over by King Pelenor.
The northern boundary is the 'Barranco de Erques', these are not the small valleys I have pictured at 'El Mendano' but massive gulleys which would have taken days to navigate and were home to many of the 'Guanches' in the natural caves. I took the well used 483 ito Costa Adeje station then the 473 to which stops at Adeje not knowing what I would find there. It turned out to be an interesting day out, the town (city?) is very pleasant to stroll around and does have quite a bit of history attached.
The northern boundary is the 'Barranco de Erques', these are not the small valleys I have pictured at 'El Mendano' but massive gulleys which would have taken days to navigate and were home to many of the 'Guanches' in the natural caves. I took the well used 483 ito Costa Adeje station then the 473 to which stops at Adeje not knowing what I would find there. It turned out to be an interesting day out, the town (city?) is very pleasant to stroll around and does have quite a bit of history attached.
The Franciscan Convent
of Our Lady of Guadalupe and San Pablo on the main street, to which
the Town Hall is attached, was founded in 1679 by D. Juan Batista de
Ponte, Marquis of Adeje. Now only the church remains which is now
restored and used as an Assembly Hall after being used as a barracks
for soldiers, a school and a warehouse. The 'Gobelin Tapestries' and
a set of unique religious pieces have been saved and will be
exhibited in the new museum. Next to the convent over a now open
square and observation platform is the original church, devoted to
Santa Ursula, that was built in Adeje in the first half of the 16th
Century. It is made up of two naves which conserve the original tiles
and motifs. I will try to add some photos later as the church is only
open in the morning and I was too late. Round the corner, with a
fantastic sweeping view down to the coast is 'Casa Fuerte'. Built in
1556 by D. Pedro de Ponte to defend his property from pirates who
raided the coast of Adeje, it was a fortified residence. A mixture of
cottage and fortress its archives tell the story of pirates, slaves,
marquises and trade and form one of the most important in the
Canaries. Casa Fuerte was the social, political and economic centre
of the area for three centuries until devastated by fire in 1902.
Whilst I'm writing this
I am looking the sunlight glinting on the waves gently rolling in
from the Atlantic, this morning the sea was as calm as a mill pond
with hardly a ripple, days can just disappear watching the tides.
There are some big yachts out in the distance, there are some well
heeled people out here!
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