55 Casa Salazar - Universidad Europea de Canarias (UEC)

Mayor Tomás Salazar y Cólogan was behind the comprehensive reform of this house – that had belonged to Antonio Ponte Ximénez – in 1910. The architect commissioned for the job was Mariano Estanga, who was still active in La Orotava at the time, proposing renovations and new buildings inspired by eclecticism and modernism. In this case there is surprising recourse to mediaeval architecture, with approaches belonging to the neo-Gothic style that had been widely used since the late nineteenth century. The building is an ambitious combination of pointed arches and lines, rosettes, small windows and shields that resulted in one of the most unique works of the many designed by Estanga in La Orotava. The first floor retains a wrought iron balcony closed off with glass, setting off this residence with its historical inspiration. It is currently the seat of the Universidad Europea de Canarias (UEC).