The name La Orotava was given by the Guanches, the natives of the island of Tenerife, who called it Arautava or Arautapala. The city and its surroundings form the largest municipality on the island with an area of 207 sq km, 78% of which belong to the Teide National Park. The historic center of the city is located 390 m above sea level and was declared a historical heritage in 1976. One of the buildings with the greatest historical value sheltered in 2012 the European University of the Canary Islands. Traditional houses have impressive balconies and beautiful gardens, and during Corpus Christi celebrations carpets are made from flowers and volcanic soil.
