In La Laguna’s old town, the Museum of the History of Tenerife occupies Casa Lercaro, a historic mansion with a courtyard and traditional Canarian features. Its displays trace the island’s social, economic and cultural development from the 15th century into modern times, using documents, maps and everyday objects. Look out for historic furniture and two carriages in a separate exhibition space. The museum is a useful stop if you want context for Tenerife’s past as well as a chance to see inside a traditional island house.
Casa Lercaro and its courtyard
The museum is housed in Casa Lercaro, a mansion built in the 16th century and associated with a Genoese family. Its stone entrance and family crest mark the façade, while inside, a courtyard and wooden gallery preserve the character of a traditional Canarian house. The layout gives the collection a domestic setting: visitors move through rooms arranged around the central courtyard.
The building has served different purposes over time, including use by a university department. It was later restored and adapted for the museum and the island archives. The restored courtyard and stairs sit alongside surviving structural elements, offering a sense of the house as well as the objects displayed within it.
Maps, documents and island life
The museum follows Tenerife’s development across several centuries, with a particular focus on social, economic and cultural change. Explanatory panels guide visitors through the displays in a sequence of rooms. Maps of the Canary Islands form an extensive part of the collection, including works dating to the 16th century. Documents, paintings and other historical material add context to the island’s political and social past.
Objects associated with everyday life help bring the displays down to a human scale. Furniture, ceramics, clothing, utensils and musical instruments show aspects of traditional life and local culture. The collection also includes religious items. Together, these materials give the museum a wider scope than a timeline of political events alone.
Carriages and language support
Two carriages from the 18th and 19th centuries are shown in a separate space at the rear of the museum. Allow time to reach this part of the visit rather than ending at the rooms around the courtyard.
Most explanations inside the museum are in Spanish. An audio guide can provide added context, and English descriptions are also available through an app; ask museum staff how to access them. The museum is one location of the Tenerife Museum of History and Anthropology, which also has sites at Casa de Carta in Valle de Guerra and the Interpretation Centre at the ruins of San Cristóbal Castle.
FAQ
Where is the Museum of the History of Tenerife?
It is at Casa Lercaro, C. San Agustín, 22, in the old town of La Laguna.
What can you see at the museum?
The collection covers Tenerife’s history and includes maps, documents, paintings, objects from daily life and two historic carriages.
Is information available in English?
Most on-site explanations are in Spanish. English descriptions are available through an app, and an audio guide can help provide context.
