Santa Cruz's Historic Plaza Weyler Fountain Restored

Plaza Weyler in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, recognized in 2021 as an important cultural site, recently had work done to its famous fountain. The plaza is valued for its history and its central role in the city. Reports say that in 2024, workers fixed cracks in the fountain's basin, which had made it unstable and not work properly. Its plumbing, electrical, and lighting systems were also replaced.

Today, this space is considered one of the most beautiful in Tenerife's capital, known for its well-kept gardens and constant flow of people and traffic. Its story began with a major change to the city in 1879. What was then an open space on the edge of town, used by the military as a field and a place for cavalry to stop, started to transform. Captain General Valeriano Weyler ordered the nearby Military Hospital to be torn down to build the General Captaincy of the Canary Islands in its place.

To go with this new military headquarters, city architect Manuel de Cámara designed a large square to act as an impressive entrance. At the same time, Calle del Castillo was extended, and new roads like the current Méndez Núñez and Avenida 25 de Julio were opened. The work to flatten the land was designed by Vicente Alonso de Armiño and carried out by workers from Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, islands that were suffering from droughts and famine. The square, first designed as a square shape, had four garden areas with paths crossing through them, and a central pond with a water jet. The City Council helped by planting Indian laurels around its edges.

People helped pay for the work. A notable example was a charity concert given by harpist Esmeralda Cervantes at the Municipal Theater (now Guimerá) on July 30, 1880. The money raised went towards the construction, overseen by Weyler. To honor Weyler, the City Council decided on February 7, 1879, to name the space Plaza Weyler.

Eleven years later, in 1891, the city council wanted a decorative fountain to make the square look better. The chosen fountain, a Neo-Renaissance style piece made of Carrara marble by Achille Canessa in Genoa, cost 11,380 lire. This was more than the city could afford. It was paid for by public donations, charity events like dances and raffles, and even by selling materials from military buildings. This large fountain, 5.8 meters high and decorated with detailed faces, angels, and dolphins, began to be installed in 1893 and was officially opened on May 6, 1899.

Throughout the 20th century, the square was changed several times. In 1938, city architect Antonio Pintor added a wall around it to separate it from traffic, making the surface flat. Later, in 1955, Enrique Rumeu de Armas redesigned it, raising it a little higher than Calle del Castillo and creating an eight-sided central area for the marble fountain, with gardens around it. In 1958, four decorative Carrara marble bowls were added around the fountain.

Being outside and getting older means the fountain needs regular upkeep. In 2009, the fountain was restored because of damage from water, too much lime, pigeon droppings, and growing microorganisms. The recent 2024 works, done because the fountain's structure was falling apart, show a continued dedication to keeping this important city and cultural site in Santa Cruz de Tenerife alive.