Municipality of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Tenerife Island, Santa Cruz de Tenerife Province, Canary Isl

Muy Leal, Noble é Invicta Villa, Puerto y Plaza de Santa Cruz de Santiago (de Tenerife), Exce

Last modified: 2023-07-03 by eugene ipavec
Keywords: santa cruz de tenerife | tenerife | coat of arms: oval (cross: st james) | coat of arms: oval (bordure: blue) | wreath (green) | crown: royal |
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image by José Manuel Erbez and Santiago Dotor

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 09 Mar 2010

• Description
• Coat of Arms
• Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Autoridad Portuaria Santa Cruz de Tenerife)
• Royal Nautical Club of Tenerife (Real Club Nautico de Tenerife)

See also:

• Santa Cruz de Tenerife Province (Canary Islands, Spain)
• Tenerife Island (Canary Islands, Spain)
• Flags and Ensigns in the Military Museum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Canary Islands (Spain)
• Spain

Other sites:

• Symbols of the Canary Islands by José Manuel Erbez

The flag of Tenerife island's capital city, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, is white with the coat-of-arms in the centre, about one half of the flag's height.

Santiago Dotor, 03 May 2000

At the entrance of the market hall of Our Lady of Africa in Santa Cruz on 16 February 2010 I spotted a flag with the coat of arms’ total height at least 80% of the flag's height.

Klaus-Michael Schneider, 08 Mar 2010

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 Apr 2007

In a golden oval shield is the red cross of the order of St.James (Orden de Santiago) with a sharp point at the bottom, a heart at the top and lilies at the left and right end, superimposed by a green Latin cross. The cross of St. James is often said to have the shape of a sword. Three black lion heads are below the cross in triangular formation, the one in the middle superimposing the sharp point of the cross. The shield has a blue border with silver (white wavy lines). On top of the border is an island, on its bottom a castle with two towers, on its left and right side one single tower, between all four anchors, all in silver (white). The shield is flanked by green garlands of laurel (right side) and olive tree (left side). Below the shield is the 1st class version of the order of charity (Orden Civil de Beneficencia) held by a black edged white ribbon. Above all is a royal crown. The inscription of the order is: "Fortitudo-Charitas-Abnegatio (?)"

The golden field represents the loyalty of all inhabitants of the city in defending their country. The cross is devoted to St.James as the cities protecting patron. After him the city was called. It remembers also the landing of Alonso Fernández de Lugo on 1 May 1494. The cross is green for showing his never fading devotion and his never decreasing hope to gain greater triumphs. The sword beneath is red in devoting memory of the bloodshed and the sword has the same form like the cross of St.James. The three lion heads are granted for three victories over British admirals (Blake, 30 April 1657 / Jennings, 6 November 1706 / Nelson, 25 July 1797) trying to invade the island, or alternatively devoted to the General Captains Dávila, Robles and Gutiérrez, defending the island. The blue border represents the Atlantic ocean. The island, shaped like a triangle represents Tenerife with its famous Pico del Teide. The silver colour represents the snow on the peak and the faithfulness of the inhabitants. The castle and towers are silver because they always defended the island. The anchors represent the port. The silver colour represents the incorruptibility and the importance of saving the riches of the island from enemies' greed. The order was granted in the name of King Alfonso XIII for honouring the people's brave behaviour during the cholera epidemic of 1893. The city then gained the title "Muy Benéfica."

(my translation from Spanish; Source: "Escudo de Santa Cruz de Tenerife," edited by the Municipality of Santa Cruz de Tenerife)

Klaus-Michael Schneider, 26 Apr 2007

Appendix – Spanish source text:

Escudo de Santa Cruz de Tenerife

CAMPO DE ORO.-Expresion de la lealtad de que han hecho gala sus habitantes en defensa de la Patria.

UNA CRUZ.-Patrona de la Ciudad, a la que dio nombre la que en su ribera fijó el 1 de mayo de 1494 el Adelantado Don Alonso Fernández de Lugo, y ante la que se celebró la primera misa el 3 de dicho mes. Verde, porque no se marchite su devoción ni desmaye su esperanza de lograr mayores triunfos.

ESPADA O CRUZ DE LA ORDEN DE SANTIAGO.-Como insignia del Santo Apóstol, en cuyo día alcanzó la mas celebrada victoria. Roja, por serlo de la Orden y por la mucha sangre que el desembarco costó a sus enemigos.

TRES CABEZAS DE LEON EN COLOR NEGRO.-Por las tres victorias logradas sobre los almirantes Blake (30 de abril de 1657), Jennings (6 de noviembre de 1706) y Nelson (25 de julio de 1797), en sus intentos de invasión. Mandaban la plaza los capitanes generales Dávila. Robles y Gutiérrez, respectivamente.

BORDURA DE AZUL ONDEADO.-Por el Atlantico que la baña. UNA ISLA.-La de Tenerife, con su famoso Teide. De plata, por la nieve que lo cubre y por su acendrada fidelidad. CASTILLOS.-Los dos esta Plaza. También de plata, por lo que han valido siempre en su defensa.

CUATRO ANCORAS.-Por su puerto de mar. De plata, por su limpieza e importancia y por las risquezas que en él se han salvado de la codicia enemiga.

CRUZ DE PRIMERA CLASE DE LA ORDEN CIVIL DE BENEFICENCIA.-Concedida por la Reina Regente en nombre de Alfonso XIII con motivo del comportamiento de los habitantes de Santa Cruz durante la epidemia de cólera de 1893. Título de Muy Benéfica.

Sources and Credits

Klaus-Michael Schneider, 19 Apr 2007

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 13 Mar 2010

The Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Autoridad Portuaria Santa Cruz de Tenerife) has a white flag with an image of the bow of a steamship in blue and red shifted towards the top. The funnel is puffing out five blue clouds, ascending in a row to the hoist. Beneath the ship is a blueish green wave. At the flag's bottom is a blue inscription: “PUERTOS DE TENERIFE.” The Authority probably is in charge not only of Tenerife Island itself but also of the other western islands like La Gomera (surely), El Hierro and La Palma. I spotted the same flag in the ports of Santa Cruz de Tenerife on 22 April 2008 and those of Los Christianos and San Sebastian de la Gomera on 11 February 2010.

Klaus-Michael Schneider, 13 Mar 2010

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 18 Mar 2010

The Real Club Nautico de Tenerife is located in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and was established in 1902. The club's pennant is horizontally divided white over blue, in its centre a golden circle quarterly divided blue and white, all quarters being fimbriated golden. Within the circle is a shield divided per bend sinister red-yellow-red. The shield is superimposed over a white and gold anchor and a pair of gold oars. In the upper hoist corner is a red St. Jacob's cross superimposed with a green Latin cross, taken from the coat of arms of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. I spotted this flag on 18 February 2010 at the boat house of the club.

Klaus-Michael Schneider, 18 Mar 2010