La Laguna

Known colloquially as "La Laguna," this university town was the first capital of Tenerife. It was planned and built in a Renaissance style in 1500, a design that was later adopted in New World cities like La Habana (modern-day Havana) and Cartagena de Indias (in Colombia), and many original, UNESCO-protected buildings remain. The old town has kept its colonial feel through the centuries with its tree-lined promenades, pastel-colored facades, and elegant palaces. Pick up a map at the tourist office, on Calle Obispo Rey Redondo, and snake your way through the pedestrianized streets to be transported to Spain’s Golden Age.