Owning a luxury residence in Tenerife offers the advantage of centuries of island history within easy reach, brought together in one extraordinary place. If you are looking to immerse yourself in an exceptional setting, a stately house where time seems to stand still, we invite you to discover a new experience.
Just over half an hour from Abama, in the heart of La Orotava, stands the Casa de los Balcones Historic Complex, one of the Canary Islands' most distinctive architectural landmarks. It is the perfect destination for an unhurried morning with the family, far from the crowds and ensconced among fragrant Canary pine, carved timber galleries and courtyards overflowing with bougainvillaea.
Construction of this elegant manor house began in 1632 and was completed in 1670, during the height of La Orotava's agricultural and commercial prosperity. Also known as Casa Méndez-Fonseca, after its original owners, it takes its name from the remarkable carved wooden balconies that overlook both the façade and the inner courtyard. Crafted from Canary Island pine and tea, the richly resinous heartwood of the native pine, they have survived almost unchanged for nearly four centuries.
Over the years, the house passed through the hands of several prominent families, including figures associated with the Canary Islands' military. For the last few generations, however, it has belonged to the Machado family, whose careful stewardship has preserved every detail with the same dedication afforded to a museum collection, allowing visitors to experience this exceptional residence in all its authentic detail.
What makes Casa de los Balcones especially remarkable is the way its interiors have been preserved much in their original condition, offering an authentic glimpse into the lives of the Canarian bourgeoisie centuries ago. Wandering through its drawing room, kitchen and bedrooms is to step into a carefully recreated seventeenth-century world, complete with period furniture, paintings, ceramics and books, creating an experience more personal than that of a conventional museum.
The house is also home to some of the foremost examples of calado canario, the traditional Canarian openwork embroidery technique in which threads are carefully withdrawn from tightly stretched fabric to create intricate decorative patterns. An entire gallery is dedicated to this remarkable craft, which has shaped the islands’ textile heritage for generations. Alongside these embroidery traditions, visitors can also discover the making of traditional Canarian costumes, including the distinctive ropa de mago, connecting the experience to the customs that continue to define the islands’ summer romerías and festive traditions.
La Orotava: a town to savour
Casa de los Balcones forms part of a remarkable architectural ensemble in La Orotava’s historic centre, alongside historic manor houses such as Casa Eladia Machado and Palacio Lercaro, now a cultural venue and a designated Asset of Cultural Interest.
A leisurely walk through these cobbled streets, lined with ornate façades with coats of arms and subtropical gardens, offers the perfect complement to the visit. There is also time to pause in the Town Hall Square or explore the nearby gardens of the Marquesado de la Quinta Roja, both just a short stroll away.
For those fortunate enough to own a luxury residence in Tenerife and enjoy the freedom to return throughout the year, La Orotava is at its most exciting during the Corpus Christi celebrations, when the town is transformed by its the elaborate carpets of flowers and volcanic sands. These ephemeral works of art are among the most distinctive cultural expressions of the Canary Islands.
A visit to Casa de los Balcones is, ultimately, a rewarding way to combine the tranquillity of Abama Resort with one of Tenerife’s richest cultural experiences. Few excursions bring together so much history, craftsmanship, and living tradition within a single space.
