Teror town hall

Teror Town Hall is the seat of local government for the small town of Teror, set inland in central Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands. The building stands right in the heart of Teror, surrounded by one of the island's best-preserved historic town centres.

Where is Teror Town Hall located?

The municipal offices sit in the compact old quarter of Teror, close to the main square and the town's key public buildings. From here the local council administers not only the town itself but also the rural areas that stretch into the island's interior around it.

What is the history behind the current town hall building?

The building that now houses the municipal offices was built in the mid-20th century to a design by architect Rafael Massanet y Faus. It opened on 24 July 1955, though its original purpose had nothing to do with local government — it was built as a secondary school run by the Salesian congregation.

In 1968 the school became a diocesan college, and from 1971 to 2001 it operated as a state secondary institute (IES). Once its educational use ended, the building stood vacant for a time until the town council decided to convert it for administrative use.

Renovation work aimed at bringing the council's scattered offices under one roof began in mid-2009. The restored building was formally inaugurated as the new town hall on 25 November 2011, and it has served that role ever since.

Did Teror have an earlier town hall?

Yes. Before the move to the current building, the council was based in a much older structure — the Casa de los Alvarado, built in 1878 by the Alvarado family on Plaza del Pino, directly facing the town church. The Teror council bought this house in 1963 and used it as the town hall for several decades. Today the Casa de los Alvarado serves as the town's tourist office and a local heritage interpretation centre, and remains one of the notable stops on the square.

Why does the building matter to visitors exploring Teror?

Teror is one of the most-visited inland towns on Gran Canaria, best known for its Marian sanctuary and the well-preserved, colonial-style architecture of its centre. The current town hall, despite its origins as a school, is now woven into that historic fabric: its mid-1950s architecture contrasts with the surrounding buildings while still fitting comfortably into the scale and layout of the old town. Walking through central Teror, visitors can easily go from the main square and the former town hall (Casa de los Alvarado) to the present-day municipal building, taking in two chapters of the town's administrative history in a short stroll.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors go inside Teror Town Hall? The building is a working administrative office staffed by council employees, so public access is generally limited to the entrance area during office hours. It is not set up as a museum or visitor attraction.

Who designed the current town hall building? It was designed by architect Rafael Massanet y Faus and originally opened, as a school, on 24 July 1955.

Since when has the building served as the town hall? It has functioned as the town hall since 25 November 2011, following a multi-year renovation that began in 2009.

Where was Teror's previous town hall? In the Casa de los Alvarado on Plaza del Pino, a house built in 1878 and purchased by the council in 1963. It now houses the town's tourist office.

Is the town hall a useful landmark for exploring the town? Yes — it sits in the centre of Teror, close to the main square, making it a convenient reference point for a walking tour of the historic old town.