Museo de Historia y Antropología de Tenerife
History museum of Tenerife in the Casa Lercaro in La Laguna, with three venues: Casa Lercaro, Casa de Carta and the Castillo de San Cristóbal.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museo de Historia y Antropología de Tenerife (MHAT) opened in December 1993 in the Casa Lercaro, on Calle San Agustín in San Cristóbal de La Laguna. The building began to be constructed at the end of the 16th century for the Lercaro family, Genoese merchants established on the island after the conquest. It belongs to the Autonomous Body of Museums and Centres of the Cabildo de Tenerife.
The museum sets out to explain the institutional, socio-economic and cultural development of the island between the 15th and 20th centuries. The permanent exhibition in the Casa Lercaro gives an overview of the history of Tenerife and is organised into areas devoted to the island, the conquest, evangelisation and the religious framework, institutions, settlement, economic foundations, trades and daily life, cartography, the 19th and 20th centuries, the Lercaro family and the Nava carriages.
Besides the Casa Lercaro, the MHAT manages two other venues. The Casa de Carta, in Valle de Guerra, focuses on the social and cultural reality of the island. The Castillo de San Cristóbal, an interpretation centre beneath the Plaza de España in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, displays the remains of the former fortress, built around 1575 and demolished in 1928, and the cannon “El Tigre”, linked to the British attack of 1797. The museum also organises temporary exhibitions, film cycles, workshops, guided tours and activities for children and families, and holds documents and books.
Highlights
- Permanent exhibition on the history of Tenerife in the Casa Lercaro
- Cartography Room
- Nava carriages
- Casa de Carta, in Valle de Guerra
- Interpretation centre of the Castillo de San Cristóbal, with the cannon “El Tigre”
Permanent exhibitions
- Exposición permanente de la Casa Lercaro: memoria histórica – Overview of the history of Tenerife, from the conquest to the 20th century, with areas on society, the economy, cartography and the Nava carriages.
- Casa de Carta: realidad social y cultural – Permanent exhibition devoted to the social and cultural reality of Tenerife, at the Valle de Guerra venue.
- Castillo de San Cristóbal: historia y sistema defensivo – Underground interpretation centre with the remains of the former fortress of Santa Cruz and the cannon “El Tigre”.
- Founded
- 1993
- Operated by
- Organismo Autónomo de Museos y Centros del Cabildo de Tenerife (Museos de Tenerife)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3.50Students, retirees, over-65s, members of large families and groups of more than 8 people |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 7 · Children under 8 enter free. |
| Seniors | €3.50Retirees and over-65s. |
| Students & apprentices | €3.50 |
| Groups (9+ people) | €3.50 per personGroups of more than 8 people. |
| Families | €3.50Reduced rate for members of large families. |
| Canary Islands residents: general admission | €3 |
| Canary Islands residents: reduced admission | €2 |
Free admission: Fridays and Saturdays from 16:00 until closing at Casa Lercaro (on public holidays, from 14:00); at Casa de Carta, from 14:00.
Free admission also for ICOM members, teachers, guides accompanying groups or carrying out preliminary visits, and school groups from the Canary Islands. The Castillo de San Cristóbal Interpretation Centre has free admission.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 7 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €3.50 · Reduced rate for members of large families. |
- Family tours & workshops
The museum organises workshops and activities for children and families, and offers teaching resources for early childhood and primary education.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Trinidad (tranvía)
Tenerife tram, line 1, Trinidad stop; TITSA interurban buses. Casa Lercaro is a few minutes' walk from the cathedral and from the tourist information point at Casa de los Capitanes.
By car
Parking available
Nearest car parks: Quinteras (on Vía de Ronda) and Plaza del Cristo. Parking on the street near the museum is difficult; tourist buses can stop beside the Plaza del Adelantado and the Plaza del Cristo.
The Casa de Carta is on the outskirts of Valle de Guerra, a few minutes' drive from the El Boquerón exit, with parking for cars and coaches.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (ES, EN, FR, DE, IT, RU) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | At the Casa Lercaro the audio guide is free and plays on the visitor's own mobile phone or tablet. There are regular guided tours for school groups and teaching resources (922 825 943, didacticamha@museosdetenerife.org). |
