Palacio de Carta (Charter Palace), Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Palacio de Carta belongs to Plaza de la Candelaria in the city center. It was a significant building in the city in the 18th century. It was built in 1752 by the order of Matías Rodríguez Carta as a residence for military commanders. Then it was a government administration office and a bank headquarters. The structure represents a mixture of Baroque and Neoclassic styles. It has a couple of interior courtyards typical of the region. This 3-storey building features balconies, a façade in quarried stone, a clock on the third level and a pediment. The site of Palacio de Carta received the status of Place of Cultural Interest in 1947, and was the first protected building in the Canary Islands.