La Laguna revive el patrimonio arqueológico canario con la exposición ‘Escrito en piedra’

The International Campus of La Laguna officially kicked off its programming with an inaugural event held yesterday at the CajaCanarias Cultural Space, which also included the first conference and guided visit to the exhibition ‘Written in Stone’, delving into the Canary Islands’ archaeological past.

The event brought together representatives of the organizing entities and institutions, marking the official start of this edition. Among others, it was attended by the Councilor for Culture of the City of La Laguna, Adrián del Castillo; the president of the CajaCanarias Foundation, Margarita Ramos; and the Vice-Rector of Digital Transformation at the University of La Laguna, Vicente Blanco.

Adrián del Castillo emphasized the opportunity for our municipality and population to host a meeting and presentations of such a high academic and cultural level. «We continue to strive to offer a culture that goes beyond entertainment and leisure, one that informs, educates, and builds citizenship,» he said.

On the other hand, the president of the CajaCanarias Foundation, Margarita Ramos, highlighted the great planning work of the course contents and the high level of the speakers, the result of the joint effort between the promoting entities, with the technical coordination of the Fyde CajaCanarias Foundation. She also emphasized that the city «with its tradition, history, and culture, has more than adequate characteristics to host a space for sharing knowledge.»

Finally, the Vice-Rector of Digital Transformation at the University of La Laguna, Vicente Blanco, stated that in the context of commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the city as a World Heritage Site, «the celebration of this Campus represents a milestone as a space for the exchange of knowledge, disciplines, and generations.» On the other hand, he highlighted the relationship between cultural value and digital transformation that defines our era, the theme of the academic program.

‘Written in Stone’, a tribute to Guanche heritage

Following the opening ceremony, the same space hosted the first conference of the Campus’s cultural program under the title ‘Written in Stone. The territory of Addar in Guanche times’, given by the History professor at the University of La Laguna, José Farrujia de la Rosa, which included a dialogue with journalist Verónica Galán.

With a successful participation, the conference addressed the achimenceyato of Addar (Punta del Hidalgo) and the Guanche worldview reflected in numerous sacred sites. Based on various researches, Farrujia showcased the work of recovering and locating Guanche place names in this territory, revealing the connection between landscape, beliefs, and astronomy.

In the dialogue between the professor and the journalist, a new perspective on the indigenous heritage of our archipelago and its significant imprint on the history of Tenerife before and after the conquest, with the persistence of Guanche elements in the religious imaginary, was discussed and reflected upon.

After the discussion, a guided visit to the ‘Written in Stone’ exhibition was conducted, set in a central and emblematic space of the city, the Adelantado square. It is freely accessible and can be visited until July 31st.

First International Campus of La Laguna

The International Campus of La Laguna is conceived as a space for academic and civic encounter that seeks to promote knowledge and reflection on major current topics, through a broad academic and cultural agenda.

The educational initiative, promoted by the CajaCanarias Foundation, University of La Laguna, and the City of La Laguna, with the technical coordination of the Fyde CajaCanarias Foundation, will take place from July 28th to 31st in various locations throughout the municipality and will bring together distinguished international figures, such as politician Josep Borrell, neuroscientist Rafael Yuste, and former Deputy Director General of Culture at UNESCO, Francesco Bandarin.

Those interested in attending the Campus can register for free, either online or in person, through the website www.campusinternacionalciudaddelalaguna.es.