Tenerife to Transform 16th-Century Casa Mesa into Textile Heritage Hub
The 16th-century Casa Mesa in La Orotava is set to become a new hub for textile heritage and traditional craft training following its transfer to the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife.
Casa Mesa, a 16th-century building in La Orotava, is set to become Tenerife’s new hub for textile heritage. The local council is currently transferring ownership of the property to the Island Council (Cabildo Insular), which plans to fully restore the building to house the Museum of Traditional Clothing.
This shift follows a change in regional heritage strategy. While the local council previously had its own approved restoration plan, the Cabildo stepped in late last year to take over the project. The decision was driven by the building’s location near other cultural landmarks, such as the Ibero-American Craft Museum and Casa Torrehermosa, making it the ideal spot to centralize the island’s craft sector.
Ricardo Cólogan, manager of the Island Craft Company, explained that the project is currently in the technical stages of data collection and drafting the formal transfer documents. The goal is to create more than just a museum; the center will serve as a space for research and training in traditional skills like drawn-thread work, roseta lace, and loom weaving, helping to preserve and teach the history of Canarian textiles.
This new center will further strengthen La Orotava’s reputation as a key cultural destination, adding to its existing collection of sites like the Museum of Sacred Art and the Pinolere Ethnographic Park. According to Heritage Councilor Delia Escobar, island technicians have already begun inspecting the building, and the administrative and restoration work is expected to move forward throughout the year.