Canary Islands marks Spain’s Most Beautiful Villages Day for the first time with its five towns

The Canary Islands Government’s Department of Tourism and Employment is strengthening its collaboration with the five island towns that belong to The Most Beautiful Villages of Spain association. Its work is focused on preserving their heritage and creating new tourism experiences linked to each area’s identity.

This was explained on Thursday by Héctor Mateo, Director General for Infrastructure, Sustainability and Tourism Quality, during the first joint gathering of the five Canary Islands towns to receive the distinction. The event was held in Teguise, Lanzarote, to mark Spain’s Most Beautiful Villages Day, celebrated every 1 October.

Alongside Teguise, the network in the archipelago includes Tejeda, on Gran Canaria; Garachico, on Tenerife; Betancuria, on Fuerteventura; and Agulo, on La Gomera. The gathering brought representatives of all five towns together in the autonomous community for the first time, alongside the Canary Islands Government and the association.

Mateo said the celebration recognises “the identity, culture, heritage, values, residents and tourist appeal of these towns”. He also argued that tourism development must be compatible with the lives of the people who live there. “Their tourist appeal must be developed without distorting the lives of those who live in the area,” the Director General said. He explained that, for the first time, the Department of Tourism and Employment is providing financial support to all five towns for projects and infrastructure related to preserving and improving their heritage.

Teguise Mayor Olivia Duque said: “The true value of the town of Teguise lies not only in its landscape, convents or castle, but in its people. For decades, residents, shopkeepers and farmers have carefully preserved our homes and respected our historic centre.”

“Thanks to their daily efforts, we are one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. We celebrate this distinction with pride, but also with a responsibility to continue preserving it for the future.” The gathering demonstrates “the importance of joint work between administrations so that we can continue improving, caring for and promoting our towns”, Duque said.

A pioneering agreement between the Canary Islands and the association

In his remarks, Héctor Mateo particularly highlighted the cooperation agreement signed this year by the Canary Islands Government and The Most Beautiful Villages of Spain association. It is a pioneering agreement, the first of its kind between an autonomous community and the organisation.

The agreement sets out areas for collaboration and the projects eligible for funding to support the preservation and promotion of the Canary Islands towns in the network, particularly in relation to cultural and natural heritage.

The Director General said that recognition of these towns should not be limited to the distinction they have received: the conditions that make each one distinctive must also be maintained.

First gathering of the five towns

The gathering took place in the square outside the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe and was attended by representatives of the association’s five Canary Islands towns.

The network’s towns’ manifesto was read during the event, followed by the raising of The Most Beautiful Villages of Spain association’s flag.

Participants included Teguise Mayor Olivia Duque; Tejeda Mayor Francisco Juan Perera Hernández; Agulo Mayor Rosa María Chinea; Betancuria Mayor Enrique Cerdeña; and Garachico Councillor for Sustainability Andrés David Hernández. Pedro Fernández, the association’s head of institutional relations, also attended.