Abades, Tenerife
Encyclopedia
Abades “on Tenerife” is a small holiday resort located on the south-east coast from Tenerife
on the municipality of Arico
, between Poris de Abona and La Jaca, GPS position 28° 08’ 35.37” N – 16° 26’ 23.50” O.
once was considered a major disease on the island. A leprosy station was first built in the north of the island, where most of the local population lived. The bodies were thrown in the sea outside Santa Cruz until a crematorium was built. In 1943 a whole leprosy village was built on the hill above Abades, including an hospital, a crematorium, many bungalows, an administration’s building facing the sea, and the big concrete church, in typical Franco
’s style with a huge cross on the top, that everyone can spot from the motorway. The project was never finished as leprosy was almost eradicated from the Canary Islands as advancements in medical treatments became available at the same time. The leprosy station became a military training facility but the whole place was sold to an Italian in 2002. The church is still in an excellent state.
Behind Abades “red mountain”, a small harbour, the “enseñada de Abades” which was primarily used to ship the red stones from the local quarry to other islands as far as Cuba as wells as for local fishermen.
Goat keepers used to live in natural caves after the few winter rainfalls, then headed back to Arico
during the long dry season.
The lighthouse, half way between Abades and Poris de Abona, was built in 1902 and replaced with a new tower in 1978.
1978 was a key-year for the development of this area with the opening of the southern airport TFS Reina Sofia and the connection through the Autopista Sur TF-1. Between 1978 and 1986, this place was named “Los Abriguitos” and many wooden hutments were built to host the new tourists. In 1986, all wooden hutments were burnt and the Abades project started with a wall facing the sea. In 1987 the square and the small church were built, in 1988 the exit 18 on the motorway took its present shape, in 1993 the roads were covered with asphalt, and the tennis court and small park were finished.
This resort has nine restaurants/pubs available around the square and in the new buildings close to the sea; two small supermarkets, two real estate offices, a Boxing- /Fitness studio and a scuba diving centre which are open every day.
Access to the beach is disabled-people friendly and a shower has been installed end of 2007.
bus line has the following connections:
• 111 connects Abades to the Los Cristianos
/ Las Americas area as well as Santa Cruz de Tenerife
in the opposite direction
• 115 connects to Las Galletas
• 116 to El Medano
• 341 to the airport South Reina Sofia.
Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...
on the municipality of Arico
Arico
Arico is the name of a municipality, village, and valley in the southeastern part of the island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, and part Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The municipality is located in the southeastern end of the island, and extends for 178,76 square kilometers from the...
, between Poris de Abona and La Jaca, GPS position 28° 08’ 35.37” N – 16° 26’ 23.50” O.
The leprosy station
LeprosyLeprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
once was considered a major disease on the island. A leprosy station was first built in the north of the island, where most of the local population lived. The bodies were thrown in the sea outside Santa Cruz until a crematorium was built. In 1943 a whole leprosy village was built on the hill above Abades, including an hospital, a crematorium, many bungalows, an administration’s building facing the sea, and the big concrete church, in typical Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
’s style with a huge cross on the top, that everyone can spot from the motorway. The project was never finished as leprosy was almost eradicated from the Canary Islands as advancements in medical treatments became available at the same time. The leprosy station became a military training facility but the whole place was sold to an Italian in 2002. The church is still in an excellent state.
From Los Abriguitos to Abades
Abades is the result of a relatively recent development. The former villages were higher in the mountain at the edge of the natural forest usually where water could be obtained by digging gullies deep into the mountains to catch the water.Behind Abades “red mountain”, a small harbour, the “enseñada de Abades” which was primarily used to ship the red stones from the local quarry to other islands as far as Cuba as wells as for local fishermen.
Goat keepers used to live in natural caves after the few winter rainfalls, then headed back to Arico
Arico
Arico is the name of a municipality, village, and valley in the southeastern part of the island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, and part Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The municipality is located in the southeastern end of the island, and extends for 178,76 square kilometers from the...
during the long dry season.
The lighthouse, half way between Abades and Poris de Abona, was built in 1902 and replaced with a new tower in 1978.
1978 was a key-year for the development of this area with the opening of the southern airport TFS Reina Sofia and the connection through the Autopista Sur TF-1. Between 1978 and 1986, this place was named “Los Abriguitos” and many wooden hutments were built to host the new tourists. In 1986, all wooden hutments were burnt and the Abades project started with a wall facing the sea. In 1987 the square and the small church were built, in 1988 the exit 18 on the motorway took its present shape, in 1993 the roads were covered with asphalt, and the tennis court and small park were finished.
Population
A big majority of the 760 + small white bungalows are owned from Canarian people who live in the much wetter northern part of the island, some others are properties of senior German citizens who use them to spend the winter months on the island. Many of these bungalows are available to rent for long-term contracts as well as for short holidays. Most bungalows are built in a similar way, white walls and dark green windows and doors.Tourism
Abades is a very quiet place to stay during the winter, but warm weekends and school holidays bring a sudden rush of activity.This resort has nine restaurants/pubs available around the square and in the new buildings close to the sea; two small supermarkets, two real estate offices, a Boxing- /Fitness studio and a scuba diving centre which are open every day.
Access to the beach is disabled-people friendly and a shower has been installed end of 2007.
Access
The access to Abades is very easy thanks to the motorway, only 12 minutes drive from the Reina Sofia TFS airport, on the autopista TF-1 direction Santa Cruz, former exit 18; now km 42. The TITSATITSA
TITSA is the Transportes interurbanos de Tenerife, S.A. which operates the only public bus service in Tenerife, on the Canary Islands. It carries over 60 million travellers a year, has a fleet of, approx., 600 vehicles, takes children to school, old persons to hospital, and offers the tourist a...
bus line has the following connections:
• 111 connects Abades to the Los Cristianos
Los Cristianos
Los Cristianos is a town in Spain with a population of approximately 19,000 , situated on the south coast of the Canary Island of Tenerife. Located in the municipality of Arona between the cone of the mountain Chayofita and the greater mountain Guaza. The town centre is around the Los Cristianos...
/ Las Americas area as well as Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital , second-most populous city of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands and the 21st largest city in Spain, with a population of 222,417 in 2009...
in the opposite direction
• 115 connects to Las Galletas
• 116 to El Medano
El Médano
El Médano is a town in the municipality of Granadilla de Abona, on the island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands....
• 341 to the airport South Reina Sofia.
Sources
- DVD "De Los Abriguitos a Abades" from the Ayuntamiento de Villa de Arico
- Witnesses