Palacio Insular de Tenerife (Insular Palace of Tenerife), Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The Insular Palace of Tenerife is an impressive example of 20th-century monumental architecture. Designed by José Enrique Marrero Regalado following a design competition in 1934, construction began in 1935 and concluded by 1940. Its grand façade, characterized by a porticoed gallery of semicircular arches, Tuscan pilasters, and topped by a six-storey clock tower, makes it one of the most recognisable landmarks in the city skyline.

Beyond its function as the seat of Tenerife’s island government, the Insular Palace holds remarkable artistic features within its walls. The most notable is the Noble Hall, a grand ceremonial hall often referred to as the “Sistine Chapel of the Canary Islands.” In 1960, renowned Canarian artist José Aguiar decorated this space with a series of murals that vividly illustrate the island’s history-featuring scenes from Guanche culture, local agriculture, maritime traditions, and important religious moments such as the arrival of the Virgin of Candelaria.

These impressive works helped earn the hall its famous nickname. In recognition of its cultural and artistic value, both the building and its murals were officially declared an Asset of Cultural Interest.