ARUCAS

Arucas Is a lively, populous town with one extraordinary feature - the needle pointed, frilly neo-gothic Church of San Juan Bautista, so commanding In size and color that It is often mistakenly called a cathedral. Built in a local grey basalt piedra azul, or 'blue stone' it was begun in 1909 and completed In 1977. The streets are unusually wide and straight, the result of a town planner's efforts In the mid-19th century.

Arucas used to be known as la villa de las flores, 'the town of flowers', and has fine subtropical gardens In the Municipal Park. Most of the greenery surrounding the modern town, however, Is that of banana plantations, giving rise to a new description of Arucas: republica bananera, 'banana republic'.

Sugar cane and, even more so, the rum made from it, are also famous local products. An old established distillery just beneath the town on the north side produces 50,000 Iitres of rum a day under the label Arehucas the old Guanche name for the town. The distillery and the Museo del Ron (Rum Museum) are both open to visitors. Half a kllometre further on is the Jardin de Marquesa.

Developed In the late 19th century, the garden displays 42 different types of palm trees, 400 different plants, bushes and trees and Is well worth a visit. To the northeast of town, the great volcanic cone of Montana de Arucas scene of the death of the last great aboriginal freedom fighter, Doramas, in 1481, offers views of La Isleta and the Bay of Las Palmas.