History and Heritage

Villa de Mazo is a municipality full of history and tradition, which exudes authenticity in every corner. Located on the eastern slope of La Palma, its lands, bathed by the Atlantic and shaped by volcanoes, hold the memory of ancient cultures, centuries of agricultural effort, and episodes that marked the destiny of the entire island.

After the Castilian conquest, Mazo was part of the extensive territory administered by the Cabildo. Over time, it consolidated its own identity, until in 1878 it received the title of Villa from Alfonso XII. Its political history was full of changes and ups and downs, from absolutist and liberal periods to the arrival of the First Republic, the monarchical restoration, and the years of the Civil War and Francoism, whose echoes are still felt in the collective memory.

But beyond politics, life in Mazo was always linked to the land and the sea. Its people knew how to adapt to the natural phenomena that marked its landscape: the eruption of the San Juan volcano in 1949, the devastating flood of 1957, and the storms that hit its coasts. Each difficulty became a demonstration of resilience, forging the strong and hospitable character of the Macenses.

With the arrival of democracy in 1977, the Villa opened a new stage, modernizing its services, recovering symbols such as its heraldic shield, and projecting itself towards the future without forgetting its past. Today, Villa de Mazo is known for its crafts, for its Corpus Christi festival with spectacular carpets of flowers and sand, and for keeping alive a rural and seafaring culture that connects visitors with the most authentic part of La Palma.

Strolling through its neighborhoods, discovering its hermitages, crops, traditional houses, or contemplating its volcanic and coastal landscapes, is to immerse yourself in a history that is lived with the five senses. In Villa de Mazo, the memory of the Benahoaritas, the colonial legacy, and the force of nature are intertwined in a unique experience that invites you to return to the origin and feel the island from its heart.

In the times of the Benahoaritas, the canton of Tigalate was a fertile and peaceful place, where shepherds cared for their flocks under the protection of the Menceyes Jariguo and Garehagua, together with their sister Arecida, a young woman admired for her beauty and nobility.

Their main residence was the Belmaco cave, the spiritual and political center of the canton. There they kept utensils, weapons, and mysterious engravings whose origin they attributed to earlier times. Daily life took place between shepherding, the preparation of gofio and honey, and popular celebrations.

The tranquility was transformed when Arecida fell in love with Tinamarcín, a brave and respected young man. Their romance became a reason for joy for the community, which eagerly awaited the wedding. However, happiness was interrupted by the external threat: the attack by Guillén Peraza and his men. In the battle of Tihuya, the Benahoaritas resisted heroically, and Tinamarcín achieved glory by defeating Peraza himself.

The triumphal return brought peace to the island, but shortly after Jacomar, a stranger from El Hierro, tried to force Arecida’s love. Rejected, he mortally wounded her. The news shocked the island: Tinamarcín mourned her loss and exclaimed “Vacaguaré” —I want to die— before letting himself be buried in a cave to join her eternally.

Arecida’s brothers avenged her death by killing Jacomar and delivering his body to the guirres, fulfilling their oath. The tragedy marked Belmaco forever and strengthened the rejection of the invaders.

The story of Tinamarcín and Arecida became a symbol of love, resistance, and dignity for the Benahoarita people. In Tigalate, their memory still resonates as a tale of passion and sacrifice that unites the warrior spirit with the tenderness of an eternal love.