Historic Casa del Corregidor Facade Restoration Nears Completion
Restoration work on the 16th-century Casa del Corregidor in San Cristóbal de La Laguna is nearing completion, aiming to preserve the historic building's original features and combat erosion on its distinctive reddish volcanic stone entrance.
The Casa del Corregidor, a historic building in the heart of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, is drawing attention once again. Located in the first Canary Island settlement to be named a World Heritage Site, this building is easily recognised by its distinctive reddish stone. It's become one of the most photographed spots in La Laguna's old town and offers a look into how Tenerife's former capital developed.
Built in the 16th century to house the island's chief royal official, the Casa del Corregidor has undergone fires, expansions, and renovations. After a fire in 1705, it was partly rebuilt, keeping original features that showcase traditional Canarian civil architecture. The volcanic stone doorway and decorative facade elements still tell a story at street level.
Restoration work on the facade of the Casa del Corregidor, one of the oldest buildings in the Canary Islands, is nearing completion and is expected to finish by mid-December.
A team from the University of La Laguna (ULL), led by professors Antonio Jesús Sánchez and María Guitián from the Fine Arts Department, is overseeing the project. Their goal is to stop the significant erosion affecting the building's entrance, which dates back to 1545.
Sánchez and Guitián explained that the aim isn't to make the facade look brand new. Instead, they want to "restore all its values, including its age," by removing later additions and bringing back some original elements.
The restoration began with a thorough inspection to identify the materials used and the causes of damage. The ULL reported that this confirmed the reddish volcanic rock had been affected by moisture, wind, and biological growth common in La Laguna.
A major challenge was carefully removing later additions, such as cement applied in the 1970s. The restoration directors noted that this cement was "harder than the stone itself," speeding up the stone's decay.
Finding replacement material was also difficult, as historical quarries like those in Tegueste or La Punta are now closed.
The team used various techniques to ensure the facade's durability. They consolidated the eroded stone and rebuilt missing parts to fill cracks and gaps, strengthening the stone facade.
Mortars made at the university were used for these repairs.
Previous research helped identify areas where architectural elements had been damaged, like the two columns that once flanked the doorway, leaving only stubs.
Thanks to research and design by the academics and architect Fernando Saavedra, the team is now reconstructing these elements based on the marks left on the facade.
Digital scanning was also used to restore missing parts of the coats of arms, making their symbols clear again.
In a move to document the building's history and construction, the team decided to keep the 'mechinales' – holes used for scaffolding in the past.
These holes, previously filled with hard cement, have now been carefully outlined and filled in a recessed way. The restoration team sees them as "a testament to the construction system" of the facade.
Once the restoration is complete, the ULL team will provide a detailed maintenance plan, including regular applications of protective and water-repellent products.
This ongoing care is crucial, as the team warns, "the entrance of this building was a patient in intensive care. It is improving now but will continue to require care over time."
The entrance of the Casa del Corregidor, which belonged to the corregidor Álvarez de Sotomayor, is designed in the Plateresque style. It features several unique and valuable elements, including three coats of arms: those of the corregidor/governor, Tenerife/Cabildo, and, at the top, Charles V.
The coat of arms of Charles V has interesting details, such as a coffer moved upwards to prevent the double-headed eagle's claw from obscuring the inner symbols.
The entrance is made of a reddish volcanic rock, likely from Camino de Dios in Tegueste. This stone was common in mid-16th-century buildings but doesn't last as well as basalt.