The Acentejo Massacre

La Matanza de Acentejo is a Spanish town and municipality belonging to the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on the island of Tenerife, autonomous community of the Canary Islands.

The municipal capital is located in the town of La Matanza, located 420 m above sea level. no. m.

Toponymy

The municipality takes its name from its administrative capital, which in turn comes from the memory of the battle that took place in this area between the Castilians and the Guanches during the conquest of the island in the xv, in which the latter defeated the former.

The nickname "de Acentejo" was incorporated into the municipal name by Royal Decree of June 27, 1916 to differentiate it from other homonymous towns, being a term of Guanche origin that means 'continuous resonance' according to some researchers.

Symbols

Shield

The heraldic shield of the municipality was approved by the Government of the Canary Islands on December 14, 1987. Its description is:

«Divided shield, bringing the first barracks, gules, two canes (banotes) crossed on a crossbow, all of its color; and in the second, of sinople, three clusters of grapes, of gold, placed 2-1. At the buzzer, royal crown closed."

Flag

The municipal flag of La Matanza was also approved by the Government of the Canary Islands on December 14, 1987, being a "bicolor flag, 2/3 of the total width, carrying the shield on it"., its similarity to the flag of Portugal is due to the great immigration received from this country for centuries.

Physical geography

Location

It is located in the northeast of the island, bordering the municipalities of La Victoria de Acentejo, Candelaria and El Sauzal.

It has an area of 14.11 km², ranking 30th on the island and 52nd in the province.

The highest altitude of the municipality is located at 1,589 m a.s.l. no. m. and is located in the elevation known as Lomo del Jugo, on the Pedro Gil ridge.

Hydrography

The main ravines in the municipality are Acentejo or San Antonio, bordering the municipality of La Victoria, La Vica, and the Cabrera ravine, bordering El Sauzal.

Climate

Average climate parameters of La Matanza de Acentejo (1991-2021)
Month	Ene.	Feb.	Mar.	Open up.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Ago.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Annual
Average temperature (°C)	15.6	15.4	16.7	17.4	19	21.2	23.2	24	23.1	21.2	18.3	16.8	19.3
Average temperature (°C)	13.6	13.2	14.1	14.8	16.3	18.2	20	20.9	20.2	18.8	16.3	14.8	16.8
Temp. medium (°C)	12	11.5	12.1	12.7	14	15.7	17.5	18.5	18	16.9	14.8	13.3	14.8
Total precipitation (mm)	32	34	37	26	17	15	16	12	12	31	36	39	307
Source: Climate-data.org

Nature

Flora and vegetation

The municipal territory has been profoundly transformed by human activity, with which its natural vegetation is very scarce and is concentrated in the coastal and mountain areas.

On the steep coast, thickets of sea thyme Frankenia ericifolia and sea lettuce Astydamia latifolia persist, typical of the rocky coasts of the Canary Islands, with some enclaves of tabaibal-cardonal, communities gomereta Aeonium lindleyi, and incense bushes Artemisia thuscula and cruets Rumex lunaria. On the cliffs known as Risco del Perro there are thickets of black firewood Rhamnus crenulata and granadillos Hypericum canariense, typical of the places that the Canarian thermophilic forests occupied. In the ravines there are brambles of Rubus ulmifolius and reed beds of Arundo donax, while in its upper sections and in the area of summits the fayal-brezal develops. Most of the forest area is made up of plantations of insigne pine Pinus radiata and chestnut trees Castanea sativa, although in the surroundings of Montaña la Morra and Lomo del Jugo a small area survives. natural pine forest of Canarian pine Pinus canariensis.

The municipality is home to one of the monumental trees of the island, the one known as Acorn-fed San Antonio.

Geology

Protected spaces

La Matanza has part of the natural spaces classified as Protected Landscapes of Las Lagunetas and Costa de Acentejo, an enclave where numerous marine birds and birds of botanical interest take refuge. the endemic species that it preserves, such as the rare pigeon-billed Lotus maculatus. Special Protection for Birds, and also constitutes the Public Utility Forest called “Pozo de Horno”.

History

Guanche period: before the fifteenth century

Sculpture tribute to Tinguaro. Work of Michelangelo Padilla (2007).

The municipal territory has been inhabited since Guanche times, having formed part of the kingdom or menceyato of Tacoronte, suggesting some researchers that the limit of this kingdom with that of Taoro was located in the ravine of acentejo

Within the modern municipal area, the places with the largest Guanche population were the coastal areas around the Risco del Perro and the Acentejo ravine.

European Conquest and Colonization: 15th and 16th Centuries

At the end of May 1494, during the beginning of the conquest of the island, the first confrontation between Guanches and Castilians known as the Acentejo Massacre took place in the Acentejo ravine. The Guanches, under the command of mencey Bencomo de Taoro, ambushed the conquistadors in the ravine, where they could not make good use of the cavalry. The Guanche forces had been divided in two, Bencomo himself attacking the vanguard while his brother Tinguaro attacked the flank of the Castilian army. The conquistadors were completely defeated, and Captain Alonso Fernández de Lugo himself was wounded, forcing himself to temporarily abandon the invasion.

After the conquest ended in 1496, La Matanza was one of the most intensely populated places during colonization.

Old Regime: 17th and 18th centuries

Parroquia El Salvador.

In 1615 the church of El Salvador was elevated to the rank of parish, its parishioners being segregated from the matrix of San Pedro Apóstol of El Sauzal.

The place has had a royal mayor since at least 1624.

In the work of the religious Juan Núñez de la Peña Conquest and antiquities of the islands of Gran Canaria and its description the place is said:

MATANZA. The place of the Matança this légua and a half of the city, has many vineyards, the Parroquia is of San Salvador with its Cura; it has mayor; it has two Hermits, vna of San Antonio Abad and another of San Diego.

Juan Núñez de la Peña, 1676.

In 1768, King Carlos III created the public offices of trustee, common deputy and trustee of facts for places that had a royal mayor, being elected by the residents themselves through census suffrage. Thus, the first "town hall" of La Matanza was formed.

The Tenerife historian José de Viera y Clavijo describes La Matanza at the end of the 18th century as follows:

MATANZA. Dista media legua del Sauzal, and two and a half of La Laguna. At another time Acentejo was called; and Matanza, after the defeat of the Spaniards in that place by the guanches. It is a land of good vineyards, a small town, with a decent church of 3 ships and a cure for the bishop, as well as other priests. The neighborhood is 1,181 people. There has been a hospice of San Franciso and two hermits; San Antonio Abad, to the summit, and San Diego, to the sea.

José de Viera and Clavijo, 1772-1773.

Modern period: 19th and 20th centuries

In 1812 La Matanza became an independent municipality on the basis of the new municipal organization arising from the Constitution of Cádiz, consolidating as such from 1836 when it was endowed with economic power.

At the middle of the xix century, Pascual Madoz says of La Matanza in his Dictionary:

MATANZA (LA), formerly called by the Guanches ACENTEJO: town with town hall on the island and diocese of Tenerife, (...) judicial party of the Laguna (distant 2 1/1 leagues). SITUATION: To the N. of the island, in uneven terrain with good ventilation and CLIMA healthy. It has about 300 little-distance CASAS, 3 schools of children and so many of the girls; the first are 25 and the second 22; the flow of the deposit before the return, according to the states of 1835, was 241 real. The parish church dedicated to the Saviour is of entry, (...); in its jurisdiction there are also 2 hermits with public worship. Confine the TÉRMINO N. and O. with the sea, and for the other points with the jurisdiction of the Sausal (to 1/2 leagues), Santa Ursula and Victoria. The TERRENO is quite flat and fertile, crossing through it the CHANGE that departing from the capital of the island Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the cross from East to West and then returns to almost all of it, costing it for its coast until it returns to the same starting point. The CORREO is received from the capital of the party in undetermined days; PRODUCTION: wheat, rye, legumes, potatoes, wine and other minor fruits; some cattle are raised, and there are rabbits and hares hunt; POPULATION: 301 neighbors, 1,374 souls (...). This population took the name that today is due to the defeat suffered by the Spaniards at this point, caused by the Guanches, their inhabitants, in which there was great slaughter.

Pascual Madoz, 1848.

On June 26, 1936, linked to the start of the Spanish Civil War, the parish church of La Matanza was burned down by a group of anarchists who had entered the church to steal.

On June 19, 1985, the Government of the Canary Islands granted the municipality the title of villa.

Demographics

Graphics of demographic evolution of La Matanza de Acentejo between 1900 and 2021

Official regular residents according to ISTAC population censuses.

As of January 1, 2013, it had a total of 8,944 inhabitants, occupying the 21st.er number of inhabitants of the island of Tenerife and 23.er of the province.

The relative population was 633.88 inhab./km².

By ages there were 70% of people between 15 and 64 years, 15% over 65 years and 15% between 0 and 14 years. By sex there were 4,538 men and 4,406 women. Regarding the place of birth, 87% of the inhabitants of the municipality were born in the Canary Islands, of which 56% were born in the municipality itself, 41% in another municipality on the island and 3% came from another island in the archipelago. The rest of the population was made up of 3% born in the rest of Spain and 10% born abroad, of which 58% were from the rest of Europe and 39% from America.

Administration and politics

City Hall

The municipality is governed by its city council, made up of thirteen councillors.

Electoral results of the municipality of La Matanza de Acentejo Political party Number of councilors 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 Innerfeña Group of Independents (ATI) 6 1 2 Coalition Canaria (CC)1 1 2 2 2 1 0 Popular Party (PP) 0 1 0 1 1 2 2 Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) 2 7 12 11 11 11 10 10 10 11 Union de Centro Democrático (UCD) 11 1Since 2007, it is presented jointly with the Canario Nationalist Party (PNC), and in 2011 it also does so with the Nationalist Canary Center (CCN). List of mayors since the 1979 democratic elections Mayor. Start of mandate End of mandate Party Domingo Diego González Gutiérrez 1979 1983 Union de Centro Democrático (UCD) Ignacio Rodríguez Jorge 1983 - Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) Territorial organization The Matanza is mostly included in the Acentejo region, belonging to its surface immersed in the Protected Landscape of Las Lagunetas to the Region of the Central Massif. It is also part of the North and Northeast Tenerife communities. The municipality is divided into seven unique population entities, some divided into other centres: Single entity Nucles Surface (km2) Acentejo Jagre Lomo la Candelaria - Guide Guide Uncle Andrés - The Caleton - The Matanza de Acentejo (municipal capital) The Matanza de Acentejo (casco) Cross of the Way - The Breñas Sun Puntillo Risco del Perro - San Antonio - San Cristobal The Pirul The Reventon The Vica - TOTAL 14.11 Economy The Matanza is included in the winemaking district Tacoronte-Acentejowhere wines are produced well considered. La vid acapara la mayor Extension de tierras del municipio, compartándose con agricultura de secano y fructles. Social welfare Health Heritage La hermitage of San Antonio Abad is the most veto religious building in the municipality, and the parish of El Salvador it is raised over another oldest temple that was set on fire in July 1936. In its capital, the Real street and near the old consistory various examples of traditional architecture are preserved in good condition. Culture Festivals In the municipality there are several festivities, being days local public holidays on Tuesday of Carnival and on August 6, the day of El Salvador. Religion The believing population of the municipality mainly professes the Catholic religion, when the parish of the Saviour, which belongs to the archpriest of Tacoronte of the diocese of Tenerife, was reunited. The Matanza is under the religious patronage of El Salvador and the Virgin of the Rosary. A real-size replica of the interior of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is under construction, where according to the Christian tradition the body of Jesus Christ was taken after his crucifixion. This replica will be located in El Salvador Square in the municipality. In this room it is intended to place also a replica of the Santa Sábana that is preserved in Turin. Communications Roads The municipality is accessed mainly by TF-5 North Autopist and for the General Roadway TF-217. Public transportation Regular transport services bus—guaguaguagua— covers the company Transportes Interurbanos de Tenerife, S.A.U. (TITSA), using the following lines: Line Traject. Tour 011 La Laguna - El Sauzal (by C/ El Calvario de Tacoronte) Time/Line 062 La Laguna - La Orotava (by the county of Acentejo) Time/Line 101 Santa Cruz - Puerto de la Cruz (by General Road) Time/Line 102. Santa Cruz - North Airport - Puerto de la Cruz (express) Time/Line 107 Santa Cruz - Buenavista (by North Airport) Time/Line 108 Santa Cruz - Icod de los Vinos (by North Airport) Time/Line 310 La Orotava - University - Hospitals Time/Line High profiles Antonio Benavides Bazán and Molina, born in December 1678, Lieutenant General, who was in charge of major military missions in American lands.