Plaza de La Luz
This square was historically the heart of Los Silos and the area's most important buildings were erected around it. In 1923, the square was revamped…
Los Silos
A visit to Los Silos is a gift of peace and relaxation. It is equally enjoyable to take a stroll along the seafront, which is full of lovely bathing spots, or to wander through the countryside on one of the many trails. The town itself is home to several gems such as the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Luz and the former Bernadine convent of San Sebastián.
The municipality of Los Silos is located in north-west Tenerife and covers a surface area of 24.23 km2 (9.35 miles). It borders with Santiago del Teide, Garachico, El Tanque and Buenavista del Norte. The highest point in this municipality is Piedras Altas, at an altitude of 1,273 m (4,176 ft) above sea level. Los Silos was founded after the conquest of Tenerife and its name (meaning The Silos) comes from the three granaries that were built in the area. In the mid 16th century Los Silos already had a chapel, but work began to build a new church in honour of Nuestra Señora de la Luz in the region's main town, which eventually became a parish church in 1605. Farming was the main source of income in Los Silos, especially cereals, sugar cane and vineyards.
The mountain of Aregume protects the historic quarter from the north winds and this encouraged people to settle here and all along the Royal Road that linked Garachico to Buenavista. The most important buildings were erected around Plaza de La Luz and many of them can still be seen today. The municipality of Los Silos covers part of Teno Country Park and the Interián Site of Scientific Interest, as well as the Las Aguas y Pasos Public Utility Mountain.
The town of Los Silos is surrounded by nature and houses most of the area's historical and cultural heritage. Its streets were already cobbled in the mid 19th century and are flanked by buildings of great architectural interest. One of them is at number 20 on Calle Félix Benítez de Lugo, with a symmetrical façade, a wrought iron balcony and a distinct Neo-classical style, while other houses on the same street are more typically Canarian. Calle Doctor Jordán has several houses in a slight state of disrepair but at number 23 there is a Neo-Canarian regionalist building. Opposite Placeta de la Constitución stands the house of Casa de Caraveo, with a noteworthy balcony in the middle with flat balusters. There are also several buildings on Calle del Olivo that represent 20th century urban architecture alongside other more traditional Canarian houses.
Approved trails in the municipality
For nature lovers, Los Silos has a number of trails across the hillsides that reveal some of the secrets of its lovely forests. The PR-TF 55 Los Silos - Talavera - El Palmar is an intermediate trail that takes about 4 hours. The route explores some stunning landscapes formed by a series of volcanic eruptions. It starts by the ravine of Los Pasos then wanders through the dense Monteverde vegetation to El Palmar, where the journey ends. Another approved trail is the PR-TF 54 Los Silos - Las Moradas - Monte del Agua, starting at Plaza de Erjos and journeying along the track of Monte del Agua. It meanders down the hills for about 3 km (1.86 miles) to Las Moradas de Arriba and then on towards Las Moradas Bajas. The rest of the walk borders several farm estates and although it is only an intermediate trail, hikers will need to be in good shape to face the slopes.