MILITARY MUSEUM TENERIFE


Todo par fa Patria - All for the Fatherland - is the inscription above the gateway into this collection of important relics from the military past of the Canary Islands. Housed in part of the semi-circular 19th century barracks, Cuartel de Almeida, the museum is proud and patriotic in tone. The oldest exhibits are the simple weapons used by the Guanches against the Spanish. Among various later insignia and memorabilia, a highlight of the collection is EI Tigre, the cannon used to defend Santa Cruz against Nelson's 1797 attack and believed to be responsible for the loss of his right arm.

Flags taken from one of Nelson's defeated ships, HMS Emerald, are also displayed Even more compelling is the small section devoted to General Francisco Franco, dictator of Spain from 1936 to 1975. You can see his desk, plans and a photograph of Franco with supporters pledging allegiance at Las Ralces, near La Esperanza.  A map shows the route of the plane Dragon Rapide, which flew from Croydon in southern England to Tenerife, picked up the future dictator and took him to Morocco, from where he launched his coup.