Icod de los Vinos is a Canarian town of 23,000 inhabitants in the north-west of Tenerife. It covers an area of about 95 square kilometres on a hillside that runs down to the sea. It is an old town with very narrow lanes winding through its centre, and it is home to the famous Drago Milenario, a huge and very ancient dragon tree that has become one of the symbols of the island. Nearby, don’t miss a visit to the Cueva del Viento, a sizeable volcanic tunnel 15 km long.
The municipality lies in a fertile, lush area famous for its vineyards and excellent wine. Indeed, the local economy is based on agriculture, and in particular on growing bananas and vines. Fishing is also well developed.
Strolling through the little streets of the centre is a pleasure. Beautiful houses look onto the squares, Plaza de la Constitución and Plaza de la Pila, among them the Casa de los Cáceres with its neoclassical façade. Along Calle de San Sebastián you’ll find more typical local houses: the Palacio de los Fleitas and the Casona de los Marqueses de Santa Lucía, with its magnificent Renaissance façade. Lovers of religious architecture can admire a Franciscan convent and church, the Iglesia de San Marcos with its interesting museum of sacred art, and the Ermita de la Virgen de los Afligidos, an evocative hermitage.
The pretty Playa San Marcos, with its distinctive shell shape, is well worth a visit.
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