If you’re not sure which sites to check out when staying at Hotel Jardín Tecina on the island of La Gomera, why not visit some of the local museums that show and explain the island’s rich heritage?

Here we’ve recommended four different museums we think are well worth a visit.

Museo San Telmo, San Sebastian

This museum was put in place to showcase the culture of the ancient inhabitants of La Gomera. It exhibits their lifestyle, diet, living conditions, health and religion, as well as their all-important whistling language. Inside are plenty of archaeological investigations you can delve into,as well as ancient texts that reveal the conquest of the island by the Spaniards. Guided tours are available to guests who wish to learn in more depth.

You’ll be able to learn the history of the island from its ancient history 2500 years ago right up to its present. The many archaeological exhibitions will provide physical evidence of the island’s exciting history, including demonstrations on how the Guanches communicated together and lived in caves.

Ethnographic Museum, Hermigua

This public institution is dedicated to researching, preserving and spreading the word of the popular culture of the island. It focuses on reviving the traditions and behaviours to help visitors reflect on the social aspects of the island. Here you can learn about the strategies used by the Gomeran society to survive and reproduce economically, as well as the difficulties of adapting rubber to the island’s physical environment.

There’s plenty of different areas within the museum, one of which focusses on ceramics and showcases the amazing collection of Virgilio Brito. This beautiful exhibition shows the art of aboriginal pottery that’s still used in Centro Alfarero Del Cercado to this day. The other section to keep an eye out for is the hand mills, which were used to extract Gofio (Canarian flour) from roasted cereal.

Columbus House, San Sebastian

Christopher Columbus is said to have stayed in La Gomera before going on his famous expedition in 1492. The house that hosted him now displays plenty of artefacts and information about the man himself, including his personal life and famous discoveries. This rustic, 17th-century mansion portrays a Canarian architectural style and consists of two floors that both feature artefacts and information boards explaining the rich history.

You’ll also get the chance to see the many archaeological and historic materials that were used by locals during the time of Columbus’s stay. Learning more about the island at the time will help you see just why he loved La Gomera so much and chose to stay on it for a several months at a time.He also stayed on the island of La Palma, so if you fancy extending your knowledge, why not take a day trip to visit his other home, which can be seen in the image above.

Honey House of Palma, Alojera

The Honey House is an interpretation centre put in place to promote palm honey, a traditional product that’s used in cooking all over the island. It’s a large contributor to La Gomera’s economy and so AIDER (Associationfor Rural Development) built the exhibition to encourage tourists to visit Alojera and buy the tasty honey themselves. The complex was also put in place to explain the culture and history of the locally sourced honey to visitors.

You will also get the opportunity to interact with interpretive panels and videos, as well as view the many handicraft items used by the locals during the production process. You’ll learn the steps that occur after the extraction of the Guarapo and join in experimental and educational activities that are conducted in the palm groves opposite.

If you wish to book a stay at the Hotel Jardín Tecina and visit the many museums in La Gomera then contact us via our website or call us on 0800 0350704.