Telde has more than a hundred archaeological sites and is known for this reason as the city of Faycanes (ancient aboriginal priests).
Tufia, Cuatro Puertas, Llano de las Brujas, Tara and Cendro are prime examples of pre-Hispanic culture. At each of these archaeological sites you can discover a world in which legend, story and history come together to fill those who visit them with a sense of awe-inspiring mystery.
Cuatro Puertas Site
Just three kilometres from the city is this artificial cavern excavated by hand in the volcanic tuff, on the Montaña Bermeja. It is one of the most extensive and important sites in the archipelago.
In the upper part of the promontory is the so-called “almogarén“, a place for worshipping the deities of nature. The complex is completed by numerous caves, most notably the Cueva de los Papeles and the Cueva de los Columnas.
Tufia Site
A site of substantial proportions, located near the coast in the fishing district of Tufia. The caves and the complex of rough stone houses, with some cobbled streets, indicate a typological advance that brings us to the very threshold of proto-historical urban planning.
Tara
In the Tara district itself there is a group of dwellings consisting of artificial caves excavated in the rock by human hands. An unauthorised find of anthropomorphic figurines, the most spectacular being the so-called “Idol of Tara”, a fertility goddess, can be viewed in the Canarian Museum.
Cendro
A settlement of artificial caves and houses built with stones without using any mortar, located on the higher plain called Caserones. Part of the complex was reused in historical times.