San Cristóbal de La Laguna, World Heritage municipality in Tenerife, Spain
The streets of San Cristóbal de La Laguna follow a precise geometric pattern with colonial mansions, wooden balconies, and stone-decorated entrances throughout the city center.
Founded in 1496, this former capital of the Canary Islands served as an urban planning template for numerous colonial settlements across Latin America.
The University of La Laguna, established in 1701, remains the primary educational institution in the Canary Islands, shaping regional academic development for over three centuries.
The city sits about 540 meters (1,770 feet) above sea level and is connected to Tenerife Norte Airport and the coast by two main roads. Buses run regularly between the center and other towns on the island.
The street layout was based on charts used by navigators in the Middle Ages and later influenced urban planning in the New World. The geometric arrangement of lanes served Spanish city founders in America as a model for dozens of colonial towns.
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