Auditorium in Santa Cruz
Near the city centre and close to the main bus station (TITSA), this iconic structure is attention grabbing. It is interesting from all angles and although photography is not permitted inside, the interiors are almost as dramatic as the exterior. (follow the link to Calatrava's Website for interior photos).
It has a terrific concert hall, comfortable seating and good sight lines. My only concern was the narrow exit doors which made leaving the place a tribulation ; I shudder to think what would happen if there were a fire when this hall was filled with people.
Material failure or design fault? At the rear of the building (the oceanside), there are several large glass plates which are apparently meant to provide natural light to the space below. Because they are at ground level with no indication that you should not walk on them, the majority are fractured. Half of perhaps a dozen panels. The four panels that are up on plinths (and therefore not subject to foot traffic) were intact.
Completed in autumn of 2003, the building was designed by Santiago Calatrava
http://www.arcspace.com/architects/calatrava/Tenerife/
Calatrava’s website
http://www.calatrava.com/main.htm
Palmetum
The mysterious Palmetum .. the tourist destination that dare not speak its name. No sign or indication of this 4 million European project in current tourist guides. Finally I found an open gate which led to a scruffy path around the site. Fence down in places, many palms nearly dead .. and not a soul to be seen. There were some fishermen and a jogger, but no one within the Palmetum complex. It was built on a landfill site and the plan was to have 500 species of palm and make it one of the world's most interesting palm collections. The European Union have little to show for their money and the city now has a near derelict site on its hands. Found my way off the peninsula by trespassing on the terrace of the convention centre.
Palmetum on the Internet
http://www.pacsoa.org.au/places/SantaCruz/index1.html
http://www.pacsoa.org.au/places/SantaCruz/index2.html
The fine print.
Date of travel : January + February 2009
Country information : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenerife