PUERTO DE LAS NIEVES AGAETE

Puerto de las Nieves is the home port of Agaete, capital in turn of a rich agricultural area. For centuries, this was the only reasonable point of access to this part of the island. A ferry service from Tenerife carries day trippers and their hire cars in both directions. One dark grey beach huddles under the cliff, looking south at the Dedo de Dios (Finger of God) - a slender monolith left standing when the rest of the cliff was eroded. Next comes the harbor and a promenade, the Paseo de las Poetas.

The 16th century Ermita de la Virgen de las Nieves (Hermitage of the Virgin of the Snows) houses the central panel of the triptych of the Virgin and Child by the Flemish painter Joos van Cleve.  The side panels, showing St Francis of Assisi and St Antony of Padua, are displayed in the church in Agaete.  The panels are put together during the Bajada de la Rama fiesta, when the two villages get together to share the fun.