San Andrés (Tenerife)

An artificial beach created in 1973 when a total of 270 000 tons of white sand was shipped from the Spanish Sahara (now the Western Sahara) to create a white sand beach to replace the existing beach strip of rocks and black sand. A breakwater with a length of 1 km was constructed along with 2 piers to prevent waves from carrying the imported sand out to the sea. In 1998 another 2800 tons of sand were imported from the Sahara to replenish sand that was lost in the first 25 years of the existence of the beach. Infrastructure of the beach is fairly well maintained, and free showers are available. The free toilets are incredibly nasty and are best avoided. The breakwater kills most of the waves, so don't expect spectacular waves at this beach. As of Sep 2019, an ugly oil rig and tankers are waiting for service or repairs as St. Cruz is trying to gain a position in this market and somehow seems not to be concerned about beach life.

The castle was built by Italian military engineer Leonardo Torriani, who was sent to Tenerife by Spanish King Philip II with the assignment to fortify the coast line and protect the most important settlements against attacks from the sea. It was built between 1697 and 1706, and considered necessary to defend against pirate attacks, which were known to raid coastal towns in the 17th century. It played an important role during the Battle of Santa Cruz in 1797 when it fired the shots that destroyed the masts of the Theseus, the ship of Admiral Horacio Nelson. The castle lost its strategic importance in the 19th century and partially collapsed due to floods, with only half of the tower still standing. It is a protected Spanish Historical Heritage site.

One of the oldest churches on the Canary Islands, built between 1505 and 1510 shortly after the conquest of Tenerife by the Spanish armada. The church is dedicated to St. Andrew the Apostle, and originally known as Nuestra Señora de Salazar in 1520. St. Andrew is the patron saint of San Andrés. The church hosts numerous religious artworks, including a statue of Christ on an altar made of orange wood in 1882. The bell tower has 2 bells, the smallest of which is said to have belonged to the fleet of Admiral Horatio Nelson who failed at invading the island in 1797.