The La Laguna Town Hall’s plenary hall hosted the official presentation of the facsimile of the Description of the Canary Islands today. This fundamental work was created by the Renaissance engineer Leonardo Torriani between 1588 and 1592 at the request of King Philip II. It features the first known cartographic map of the city, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The event brought together institutional representatives, academics, social entities, and community groups.
The event featured speeches from La Laguna’s mayor, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez; João Luís de Jesus Fernandes, vice-dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Coimbra, whose involvement has been pivotal in enabling the city to acquire this facsimile; and Adolfo Cordobés, the councillor for Cultural Heritage, who is leading this initiative.
The Importance of the Facsimile
The Description of the Canary Islands is one of the most valuable testimonies to the historical heritage of the archipelago. This unique work encompasses the first scientific, urban, and territorial representation of the islands. The manuscript, crafted between 1588 and 1592, contains over 60 illustrations, including island maps, coastal profiles, city and town plans, ethnographic scenes, representations of fortifications, traditional costumes, and elements of civil and military architecture.
It is an exceptional document that combines engineering, cartography, art, and natural observation. It provides the first systematic and thorough insight into the geographical, social, and defensive reality of the Canary Islands in the 16th century.
Having an exact facsimile of this manuscript, produced manually and with complete fidelity to the original preserved at the University of Coimbra, marks a milestone for the city and the Canary Islands. It enables the public to engage with an extremely fragile document that could not travel, while simultaneously reinforcing historical, academic, and cultural ties between both university cities and recovering an essential piece of La Laguna’s identity.
Foundational Memory
Mayor Luis Yeray Gutiérrez emphasised during his speech that “this facsimile is not merely a reproduction; it is a bridge between centuries, a gesture to recover our foundational memory, and a symbol of this city’s commitment to heritage conservation and academic research.” He highlighted that “La Laguna reconnects with its own origins through Torriani’s scientific insight, which first established the Renaissance layout that now defines us in the world.”
João Luís de Jesus Fernandes, vice-dean of the University of Coimbra, which holds the original manuscript, celebrated the collaboration between the two university cities: “For our university, it is an honour to contribute to La Laguna’s access to a work that is part of its historical identity. This project strengthens a historical relationship that also has its roots in the figure of José de Anchieta and is now extending into the future with new cultural and academic initiatives.”
Adolfo Cordobés, the councillor for Cultural Heritage, acknowledged the document’s heritage and scientific value. “The Description of the Canary Islands is one of the most extraordinary testimonies of the archipelago’s past. Having a precise facsimile, crafted manually with museographic criteria, allows us to offer the public a legacy that could never travel due to its fragility. This project serves as a tool for research, outreach, and heritage education that will be complemented with interpretative workshops led by specialists and public exhibitions.”
Katarzyna Zych, a conservator, restorer of graphic works, artist, educator, and head of the restoration company Papyri Ars, explained the reproduction process. “It has been entirely a handmade endeavour, carried out page by page, respecting each illustration, marginal note, time mark, and even the damage caused by woodworms in the original manuscript. The aim has been to create an exact scientific replica that allows for study and contemplation of the work as it has come down to us.”
The original work, preserved at the General Library of the University of Coimbra, is an extremely fragile manuscript. Therefore, creating this facsimile—a project commissioned for the 25th anniversary of La Laguna’s designation as a World Heritage site—constitutes a significant cultural event for the Canary Islands.
Interpretative Workshops and an Exhibition
Following the institutional event, the day will continue with interpretative sessions entitled “La Laguna of Leonardo Torriani,” starting at 16:30 today, at the former convent of Santo Domingo. These sessions will be open to the public, albeit with limited capacity. They will offer a multidisciplinary perspective, delving into the historical, scientific, and heritage significance of the work.
Participants will include anthropologist Pablo Estévez with the lecture “Canarias under the Sign of Torriani”; Katarzyna Zych presenting “The Reconstruction of Memory: The Creation Process of the Facsimile of Leonardo Torriani’s Book (1590–1594)”; Professor José Luis Dólera Martínez with “Mapping Time: The Urban Evolution of La Laguna”; and Colonel and researcher Juan Tous Meliá with “Leonardo Torriani as Seen by a Cartophile.”
The project will reach its focal point on May 15, with the opening of the facsimile exhibition at Casa Anchieta, a space that enhances the historical bond between La Laguna and Coimbra through the figure of Saint José de Anchieta. The exhibition, conducted with the necessary safety and conservation measures, will allow visitors to view the reproduction in a context of substantial heritage significance and is intended as the beginning of a broader journey.
Furthermore, the councillor for Cultural Heritage announced that efforts are underway to allow the facsimile to travel in the future to various Canary Islands cities represented in Torriani’s maps, such as Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santa Cruz de La Palma, Teguise, Garachico, and San Sebastián de La Gomera, among others. This is all aimed at bringing this exceptional legacy closer to the citizens of the archipelago and enhancing the dissemination of shared heritage.
