Virtuoso Life - March/April 2008 - (Page 56) DESIGN TOUR have to drive west to Icod de los Vinos. Rambla General Franco at Numancia Two of the sixteenth-century houses on Calle San Agustín have been sensitively restored and remodeled. Casa Lercaro (No. 22), which was built by a family of Genoese merchants, is now the Museum of the History of Tenerife, and the Cabrera Pinto Art Institute occupies a massive stone warehouse at No. 48. A new multicolored tram climbs the hill from Santa Cruz to La Laguna in about 20 minutes. La Laguna This charming university town was the capital of Tenerife before the seat of government was moved to Santa Cruz in 1723, and the historic core around the Plaza del Adelantado has been well preserved. DINING BY DESIGN Los Cuatro Postes Well-heeled locals patronize this elegant dining room for poached foie gras, baked pompano, and a market-driven menu. Emilio Calzadilla 5, 34-922/287-394 El Puntero Local fish simply grilled, including choco, sama, and chicarros, as well as octopus and halibut, is the specialty. San Clemente 13, 34-922/282-214 La Tasca de la Bodega Albert, the Catalan sommelier, will help you pick the ideal bottle to accompany the superb traditional cuisine. San Sebastián 57, 34-922/223-909 La Solana Come here for the minimalist decor, a good wine list, and a menu that includes eggs scrambled with ham and duck liver, and brandade of cod with trout roe. Pérez de Rozas 15, 34-922/243-780 El Coto de Antonio This centrally located restaurant’s Basque and Canarian cuisine, such as lobster salad, suckling pig, and roast kid in almond sauce, wins general acclaim. General Goded 13, 34922/272-105 Tasca El Silbo Gomero Duck marinated in palm honey, cod with black potatoes, and milk chocolate soup highlight the menu at this comfortable restaurant, just a short taxi ride from the historic core of La Laguna. Volcán Helena 9, 34-922/310-355 El Teide A 12,000-foot volcano, El Teide rises from Parque Nacional del Teide at the heart of the island. The multicolored lava and pumice plains may seem familiar: They were used as a desert location in the original Star Wars movie. Come in late spring to glimpse rare wildflowers, including the six-foot-tall tajinaste rojo. You can drive through the park in a few hours, spend a day hiking, or take the thrilling eight-minute cable car ride to viewpoints below the summit. Magma Arts and Congress Centre From the freeway you might mistake this impressively sculptural block, located near a popular southern resort, for a rock outcrop that’s been topped with an undulating canopy. A dozen jagged blocks of rough surfaced concrete enclose a restaurant, offices, and services, and support long roof trusses over three vast events areas. It’s another masterwork by architect Fernando Menis, who helped design La Presidencia and now has his own firm. The cavelike interiors are generally open to the public, and this is also a good place to catch a concert in the flexible performance space. Avenida de los Pueblos, Costa Adeje Rock star: Magma Arts and Congress Centre. 56 V I RT U O S O L I F E MagMa arte & Congresos
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