Casco de Adeje (Old Town)
Perched on the hillside above the glittering hotel strip, the historic core of Adeje is a world away from the poolside loungers — all whitewashed walls, bougainvillea-draped balconies and a 16th-century church that has survived pirate raids. Most visitors never make the 15-minute drive uphill, which is precisely why you should.
The Church and the Castle
The Iglesia de Santa Úrsula dominates the small plaza and dates from 1556, making it one of the oldest churches in the south of Tenerife. Its plain Canarian Gothic façade belies a surprisingly ornate interior with a gilded altarpiece and a wooden Mudéjar ceiling.
A short walk away stand the ruins of the Casa Fuerte, a fortified manor house built by the Ponte family — the feudal lords of Adeje — partly as a defence against the Berber pirate raids that plagued this coast in the 1600s. The crumbling walls are freely accessible and the story behind them is genuinely gripping.
Local Life on the Plaza
The plaza around the church fills with local families on Sunday mornings when a small informal market of homegrown fruit, vegetables and Canarian cheese sets up under the jacaranda trees. It is nothing like a tourist market — prices are in chalk on cardboard and conversation is in Spanish.
Several no-frills tapas bars ring the square serving papas arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes) and mojo sauces for under €5 a plate. Bar La Plaza is a reliable choice, always busy with locals watching football and pouring cold Dorada beer.
Casco de Adeje (Old Town) on video
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