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Photo: Yo, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
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.
The Castle of San Andrés or Tower of San Andrés is located in the village of San Andrés. This castle served to protect the island of Tenerife from pirate attacks.
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Iglesia de San Andrés Apóstol
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.