Casa de la Portuguesa

Casa de la Portuguesa is a historic house in Santa Úrsula, Tenerife, regarded as one of the finest examples of British colonial-style architecture on the island. The building stands on the southern edge of the TF-217 road, near the settlement of El Calvario, and has been protected as a Cultural Heritage Site (Bien de Interés Cultural) with the category of monument since 2007.

Where the name comes from and the building's history

The house was built in the late 19th century and stood out from the outset against the surrounding, typically Canarian architecture. It remained in private hands for decades until 2010, when the Santa Úrsula town council acquired it with the intention of giving it a cultural purpose. Today the building operates as the Casa de la Juventud, a youth center, and functions as a venue open to public events.

What the architecture of Casa de la Portuguesa looks like

What sets this building apart from other heritage sites in the area is its almost textbook collection of British colonial features: wide terraces and porches, steeply pitched roofs covered in French tiles, pronounced eaves, and richly decorated, exotic exterior woodwork. The house is a single-story structure with an irregular floor plan made up of three wings arranged in an L-shape around a small central courtyard, which forms the heart of the whole layout. The main façade is the most decorative element of the building, and it is what catches the eye of anyone driving along the TF-217.

What happens inside the building today

After being adapted for public use, Casa de la Portuguesa became a space that hosts exhibitions, workshops, conferences, and other events aimed at local residents. Its role as a youth center means the building combines historical value with an active community life, a rare combination for a property listed as a Cultural Heritage Site.

Why Casa de la Portuguesa is worth a visit

For anyone interested in Canary Islands architecture, this is a chance to see a style that is otherwise uncommon on Tenerife: colonial and British-influenced rather than Spanish-Canarian. The building itself, with its distinctive courtyard and ornate façade, is worth seeing even without prior knowledge of its history, and its Bien de Interés Cultural status confirms its significance to the region's heritage.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Casa de la Portuguesa located? On the southern edge of the TF-217 road, near El Calvario, within the municipality of Santa Úrsula on Tenerife.

Is the building a protected heritage site? Yes, it has held Bien de Interés Cultural status in the monument category since 2007.

What is it used for today? It operates as the Casa de la Juventud, a youth center, and hosts exhibitions, workshops, and cultural events for local residents.

When was the building constructed? It dates from the late 19th century and represents a style of British colonial architecture that is rare on the island.

Who owns the building now? Since 2010 it has belonged to the Santa Úrsula town council, which acquired it to give the property a cultural purpose.