Who first lived in Tenerife?

The earliest known human settlement in the islands, dating to around 200 BCE, was established by Berbers known as the Guanches. However, the Cave of the Guanches in the northern municipality of Icod de los Vinos has provided the oldest chronologies of the Canary Islands, with dates around the sixth century BCE.



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Who were the Guanches? Etymologically, the name Guanches can be accurately translated as “person of Tenerife.” Although the term was originally used to describe the ancient inhabitants of only Tenerife, it is now used to make reference to anyone from the prehispanic population of the Canary Islands in their entirety.

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History: Created by a volcano 10 millions years ago, Tenerife was originally inhabited by the Guanches, which were a cavern tribe originally from African. Until the arrival of the Spaniards the Guanches had been living in peace with their prehistoric customs and culture.

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National Intercultural Cities Network - Spain Out of the total, the 80.44% of its inhabitants is Spanish from birth, with 72.63% born on the Canary Islands and 7.82% born in another Spanish territory. Out of the total, the 13.04% are non-nationals, whereas the 6.51% are foreign-borns.

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Phoenician, Carthaginian and Roman traders are known to have visited the islands and Roman artifacts have been found in the Canaries dating from around the 4th century CE, although there is no evidence of a Roman settlement.

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Tenerife newspaper, Diario de Avisos, report that experts from the University of La Laguna have uncovered remains of a viking drakkar - or long ship - used by the Scandinavian Vikings and the Saxons to raid coastal and inland settlements during the European Middle Ages - on Tenerife's Las Teresitas beach.

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As in the rest of Spain, in the Canary Islands the official language is Spanish. However, as in the majority of countries, there are many people who speak English, the second most spoken language, and many people also understand German.

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According to the reliable Encyclopedia Britannica, the Guanches are thought to have been of Cro-Magnon origin... and had a brown complexion, blue or gray eyes, and blondish hair.

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Tenerife is also a province of Spain and is therefore part of the European Union and belongs therefore to Europe. Tenerife is part of the most southerly islands of Europe very close to the western side of Africa.

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In 2022, the United Kingdom was the most important tourism source market for the Canary Island of Tenerife. Close to 2.3 million British tourists visited this Spanish island that year, roughly three times the number of Spanish tourists from the mainland.

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Between 1420 and 1479 a Portuguese force subdued Gomera. In 1479 the Treaty of Alcáçovas recognized Spanish sovereignty over the Canaries, and the conquest of the remaining islands was completed in 1496.

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Tenerife is part of the Canary Islands, which are an autonomous region of Spain, Canarias in Spanish.

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As in the rest of Spain, the majority religion in the Canary Islands is the Catholic Church. The Catholic religion has been the majority since the Conquest of the Canary Islands in the fifteenth century.

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It was the last of the Canary Islands to fall to Spain in 1496 and subsequently became an important trading centre. Although part of the European Union, the Canary Islands are physically closer to Africa, with Tenerife lying just 300km off the coast of Morocco.

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Here are some of the traditional foods you can enjoy on the island.
  • Mojo. ...
  • Goat Cheese. ...
  • Fish and Sancocho Canaria. ...
  • Ropa Vieja Canaria. ...
  • Papas Arrugadas (Wrinkled Potatoes) ...
  • Conejo al salmorejo (rabbit stew) ...
  • Gofio. ...
  • Arroz a la Cubana.


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Traditional Canarian food can be described in two words: simple and delicious. With the emphasis on freshness, everyday Canarian dishes comprise grilled meats or fish (tuna, parrot fish, vieja, swordfish, sea bass), soups, stews and vegetables - many of which are surprisingly hearty.

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