AGAETE

Agaete stands at the mouth of the lush, green barranca of the same name. Its handsome old buildings, fanning out from a main square, with huge trees and a grand Canarian church, is one of the most charming spots on the island.

The church, the Iglesia de la Concepcion, possesses a fine 16th century Flemish triptych. This Is shown during the Bajada de la Rama ('Bringing Down the Branch'), an ancient festivity celebrated In Agaete, Puerto de las Nieves (the town's little local harbor, 1 km away) and in Puerto de la Aldea.  On the lower side of town is a walled garden, the Huerta de las Flores, open to the public, venue for some of the town's cultural events. The 19th century poet Tomas Morales wrote in these small and densely planted gardens.

The green and fruitful 7km-long Barranco de Agaete  - producing mangoes and papayas, avocados, figs and coffee eases the spirit after the harshness of so much of the Island's volcanic landscape. There is one substantial tourist development, with privately owned houses and apartments, on the northern side of the valley. Elsewhere, ancient looking villages run down on spurs from the barranco or cling to the steep slopes.

From the head of the barranco, there are fine views down towards the sea and upwards to the great bluff of Tamadaba, where Canarian pine forests fringe the top of a precipice.