Chirche: Tradition Meets Tourism in Tenerife Village

Chirche, a village high up in the mountains of Guía de Isora, in southern Tenerife, is a great example of the big changes happening in rural communities across the Canary Islands. A recent report shows how Chirche's deep-rooted traditions are now mixing with modern life and the growing impact of tourism.

This village, home to over a hundred people, is nestled in typical volcanic scenery. Here, traditional Canarian buildings sit alongside modern ones built for tourists. Long-time residents like Juana Delgado Duranza and María Lola Placeres Rodríguez share stories of Chirche's past economy. It was once based on farming just enough to live on and growing tomatoes. They remember when families grew grains, kept small farm animals, and men worked in underground water tunnels, which brought in good money. The tomato industry, especially, supported many families for decades, with several co-ops in Guía de Isora.

Today, the economy has largely shifted towards tourism. You can see this in the rental cars and holiday homes, and in people moving for work to tourist hubs like Las Américas, where María Lola's daughter is employed. Despite these changes, Chirche's population remains steady. There are even eight to ten children who go to the local one-teacher school. What's more, new people are buying homes in the area. They're drawn by the peaceful country setting and the more affordable housing, a growing trend in Tenerife's mountain villages.

However, life in Chirche has some challenges when it comes to basic services. Residents don't have a supermarket or a doctor's office, so they have to travel to Guía for these. While the village is on a road leading to Teide National Park (via Chío), getting around for daily tasks means relying on private transport.

Social and cultural life in Chirche centers around places like the Brasas de Chirche bar and the restaurant run by the San Felipe de Neris festival committee. Their big festival is held on May 26th. While these celebrations once attracted many people, they are now smaller, more local gatherings. Still, people remember lively music sessions with traditional instruments, much like today's parrandas.

As dusk often brings a haze over the landscape, the community of Chirche shows a great ability to adapt. A young man, who helps prepare the church for Saturday mass, notes there are few people his age, but points out that some do stay. This strength, in a place where people have made the harsh volcanic land livable, shows the determination of a community that, balancing old ways and new, tries to keep its unique spirit alive.