Urban Planning in the First Unfortified Spanish Colonial Town

Research reveals that the historic center of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, the first unfortified Spanish colonial town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, exhibits a distinct astronomical alignment pattern. By analyzing the spatial orientation of 21 historic churches in the old city, scientists identified a consistent declination slightly below 20 degrees when correlated with solar movements. This finding suggests a deliberate design linked to the feast day of San Cristóbal de Licia (July 25), offering new insights into the town's urban planning and its symbolic significance as a 'Town of Peace.' The study also critiques recent, speculative hypotheses about the city's layout while highlighting its unique Latin-cross structure, formed by key churches. Published in Journal of Skyscape Archaeology, this work bridges urban history, astronomy, and colonial architecture.

Gangui, A., & Belmonte, J. A. (2018). Urban Planning in the First Unfortified Spanish Colonial Town. Journal of Skyscape Archaeology, 4(1), 6–25. https://doi.org/10.1558/jsa.34336