Anthropology Museum Tenerife

This beautiful, low Canarian farmhouse and country mansion dates back to the end of the 17th century, and is one of Tenerife's prettiest architectural gems. The building is an exquisite arrangement of carved wooden doors, balconies, porticos and patios. It stands among tropical gardens in the countryside overlooking the village of Valle de Guerra. For centuries the home of the Carta family of regional administrators, the building now houses the Tenerife Anthropology Museum. Reconstructed rooms reveal much about rural life in Tenerife, and there are examples of all the island's folk arts and crafts.

Inside, 14 exhibition rooms with their galleries are used to recreate appealing little glimpses of ordinary life in the rural Tenerife of past times. The principal displays are of weaving, needlework and pottery, as well as farm tools, fabrics, clothing, ceramics and furniture.

The most interesting exhibits are of traditional Canarian dress from the 18th century onwards, highlighting the small but important differences of style and color between one island and the next. Embroidered and patterned festival clothes, wedding clothes and everyday work wear are on show. The weaving and sewing rooms show how these clothes would have been made in the past.