Drago Park in Icod de los Vinos opens new space on Guanche culture

A new cultural initiative aims to highlight Tenerife's aboriginal past through a recreation of the Guanche way of life.

Recreation of a Guanche dwelling in the Drago Park of Icod de los Vinos, Tenerife.
IA

Recreation of a Guanche dwelling in the Drago Park of Icod de los Vinos, Tenerife.

The Drago Park in Icod de los Vinos has inaugurated a new space dedicated to Guanche culture, recreating the habitat and customs of Tenerife's ancient inhabitants.

The Drago Park, located in Icod de los Vinos, has expanded its tourist offerings with the opening of the "Icod de los Vinos, Guanche Territory" space. This initiative, promoted by the Tourism department and Icodtesa, aims to highlight the municipality's aboriginal past and the way of life of the ancient inhabitants of Tenerife, the Guanches.
The new space allows visitors to learn closely about the Guanches' habitat and their mummification techniques. It includes the reproduction of an audiovisual, also titled "Icod de los Vinos, Guanche Territory", created by local resident Carlos Rodríguez, which delves into the history and culture of this aboriginal people and their influence on present-day Icod de los Vinos.
Before the arrival of Europeans, this territory was part of the Menceyato de Ycoden. The Guanches settled in natural caves on the slopes of ravines and cliffs, adapting them into safe refuges and living spaces within these volcanic lands.
Death held a special significance for the Guanches, who believed in life after passing. They practiced advanced embalming techniques using natural resins and animal skins, showing great respect for their deceased.
The iconic Drago tree of Icod de los Vinos, approximately 800 years old, was considered a sacred being by the Guanches, symbolizing strength, protection, and longevity.