La Higuera

The legacy of the Canarian fig trees

This district of Granadilla de Abona owes its name to one of the most appreciated trees in Canarian agriculture.

The presence of the fig tree dates back to aboriginal times, long before the conquest of the islands, as ancient accounts and archaeological studies confirm.

Figs played a fundamental role in the diet. They were eaten fresh and dried in the sun on racks and in ovens to preserve them for consumption during the winter. Fig trees were so valuable that until the last third of the 20th century they were recorded in wills and property documents.

In this area, fig trees must have been very important or there must have been an outstanding example. In addition to the neighbourhood, the Fuente la Higuera, the Montaña la Higuera, the Camino la Higuera and the Barranco la Higuera bear their names.