Behind Elegant Squares: True Crime in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

A 1980s nightclub stabbing on Calle San José inspired Mecano’s hit Cruz de Navajas – and it’s only the first case on this self-guided walking tour of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where elegant squares hide stories locals usually only whisper about. The route passes the site of the Hotel Camacho, where exiled King Jaja of Opobo died in 1891, allegedly poisoned with a cup of tea. Half a century later, a Nazi spy sent coded messages from the same building. In Plaza del Príncipe, a stolen bronze fish became a four-year criminal case. Then the stories darken: a 1970 family killing tied to an obscure German sect, and a serial killer’s Carnival-season manhunt in 1991. The walk ends at Puente Galcerán, above a ravine where a guesthouse’s hidden remains uncovered a seven-year mystery. Perfect for true crime fans and anyone who likes their city history with a darker edge. Install the VoiceMap app and enter the ticket code from your confirmation email to download the tour and start walking.