Guardian Names Tenerife's La Recova World Top 10 Market
The British newspaper The Guardian has named Santa Cruz de Tenerife's Nuestra Señora de África Market, also known as La Recova, as one of the world's top ten markets in its 'Readers’ travel tips' section, praising its beautiful architecture and wide variety of goods.
The British newspaper The Guardian has named Nuestra Señora de África Market, also known as La Recova, as one of the world's top ten markets. It was featured in their 'Readers’ travel tips' section. Other famous markets on the list include Central de Atarazanas in Málaga, Spain; Pike Place Market in Seattle, USA; and the Fang night market in northern Thailand.
The Guardian praised Santa Cruz de Tenerife's main market for both its beautiful architecture and its wide variety of goods. Kate Holbrook, who wrote the review, highlighted the stunning building, adorned with sculptures and flowers. She also noted the vibrant display of fish, fruit, and vegetable stalls, full of colour and diversity. Holbrook also pointed out how the market was saved from closure. When it was almost lost to fast food chains and big supermarkets, a group of traders formed a non-profit organisation to protect it. They eventually gained support from the Canary Islands Government and the City Council, helping the market regain its important place as a community hub.
Nuestra Señora de África is one of the most iconic buildings built by the Military Command of the Canary Islands, and it remains one of the best-preserved historic structures in Tenerife's capital. It first opened in 1943. Since then, it has grown to be not just a vital spot for buying fresh food, but also a popular place for people to meet and socialise.
This market replaced the older 'Recova,' which was located in the Plaza de la Isla de la Madera, next to the Guimerá Theater (now an exhibition hall). Journalist Domingo J. Jorge noted during the market's 70th anniversary that both the Serrador bridge and the Nuestra Señora de África Market were major projects. They were initiated by the Economic Command of the Canary Islands when General Serrador was captain general.
The main reason for building the new, larger, and more practical market was the lack of space in the old 'Recova Vieja.' Many of today's vendors, like Carmita, have a direct family connection to that very first market.
According to newspapers from that era, the name Nuestra Señora de África was chosen to honour General Serrador's wife on her name day. The architectural design was created by Enrique Marrero Regalado from Tenerife, who won a competition for the project. The construction was managed by Rumeu de Armas, who was the municipal architect at the time.