Palacio de Carta, Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The Palacio de Carta is a palace located in the central Plaza de la Candelaria, right in front of the Chamber of Commerce and the monument to the Triunfo de la Candelaria, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It is one of the most outstanding civil buildings of the Canarian Baroque, although in its façade made in stonework we can also appreciate elements of neoclassical style.

It was ordered to be built in 1721 by Matías Rodríguez Carta, to become the family residence, being finished in 1752. Inside, it has two courtyards in the traditional Canarian style. It was the headquarters of the Captaincy General of the Canary Islands, of the Civil Government and later of the Spanish Credit Bank in the 1950s. It is currently owned by the Government of the Canary Islands.

It was designated of Cultural Interest in 1947, being the first building with this protection in Santa Cruz and one of the first in the Canary Islands. It is said that it was the best known place in the city during the 18th century.

On July 18th 1936, when it was the seat of the Civil Government, it was taken by the military coup plotters in the early hours of the morning, and the civil governor who also lived there, Mr. Manuel Vázquez Moro, was kidnapped and shot in October of the same year after a farcical trial in which he was accused of treason. After the seizure of the building, the police loyal to the Republic, which was the legality in force, went to liberate the building and there was a shootout where two people died, one of the policemen and a Falangist in the same square that is now called Plaza de la Candelaria.

The building is currently for sale.