From Hospital to Heritage: The Evolution of Tenerife’s MUNA

The transformation of the former Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados Civil Hospital into the Museum of Nature and Archaeology (MUNA) is more than just a change in architecture; it marks the final chapter of an institution that served as the heart of social welfare in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for over two centuries. The building stands as a living record of the city’s evolution, tracing the path from 18th-century religious charity to modern public administration.

The hospital’s story began in 1745, when clergymen Rodrigo and Ignacio Logman Van Udeen sought to help the city’s most vulnerable residents, many of whom were living in local caves. Built on land donated by the Herrera y Ponte family, the hospital opened in 1753 with 30 beds. For its first few decades, it relied on private donations and its own agricultural production. By 1819, the State began funding the facility, allowing it to hire professional medical and administrative staff.

The 19th century brought significant administrative changes. In 1849, the City Council took over, adding services like a foundling home. By 1853, the Provincial Council assumed control, professionalizing the staff and expanding the hospital to 80 beds across six wards. A major crisis hit in 1868 when a fire broke out during construction work led by architect Manuel de Oraá. Patients had to be evacuated to the Church of La Concepción, and the building was only restored thanks to insurance money and public donations.

The building’s current appearance is the result of many years of renovations. After Oraá passed away, Manuel de Cámara y Cruz finalized its neoclassical design, which features four interior courtyards and two levels. In the 20th century, the Island Council (Cabildo Insular) took management in 1914, commissioning architects Antonio Pintor y Ocete and later Tomás Machado to expand the site to meet modern needs.

The hospital finally closed its doors in 1971 after the new General Hospital of Tenerife opened. After sitting empty for two decades, the Cabildo launched a major restoration project in 1994, led by architects María Nieves Febles Benítez and Agustín Cabrera Domínguez. This work concluded in 2002 when Queen Sofía inaugurated MUNA. This marked the end of a long historical cycle, turning a former refuge for the destitute into a premier cultural and scientific landmark. Notably, the hospital’s history also includes the final years of Lieutenant General Antonio Benavides Bazán, who retired there after a long career and left his estate to the institution.