Puerto de la Cruz » Places of Interest
Antigua Casa de la Real Aduana. Antigua Casa de la Real Aduana [The Former Royal Customs House]This is the oldest civil structure preserved in Puerto de la Cruz and an essential element in any photo of the fishing harbour. Built in traditional Canary style, it was founded in 1620 by the Franchy family. Later on it was leased to the Royal Treasury to house the Customs offices and as a residence for the Chief Customs Officer, until in 1833 this department was transferred to Santa Cruz. Around the Customs House , from 1708 until the beginning of the XXth Century, was the Santa Barbara battery, of which only the stone stairway, built in 1741, leading down to the sea, remains. This small fortification consisted of a crenellated wall, a lookout post and a powder house. It was armed with four cannon to defend the ships anchored in the area of the Limpio de las Carabelas, near the end of the old breakwater. In view if the large number of ships which arrived to load fruit, the Mayor requested the Military Command to knock down the crenellations and the lookout post to allow lorries bringing the goods to manoeuvre. In 1997 the Tenerife Cabildo bought the house from the Baillon family, restored it and turned it into a cultural and exhibition centre. It has too the new Tourist Office on the ground floor.
© Centro de Iniciativas y Turismo de Puerto de la Cruz