Casa de Los Soler - Vilaflor de Chasna

This beautiful example of traditional Canarian architecture was the residence of several generations of the Soler de Padilla family from the 16th to the 19th century , as well as of their descendants in the possession of the Mayorazgo de Chasna, the Marquises of La Fuente de Las Palmas .

The original house was built by Pedro Soler and his wife Juana de Padilla at the beginning of the 16th century. The current appearance dates from the 17th century, with the logical improvements and extensions of later centuries.

From an architectural point of view , the hallway with portico and stone columns on the ground floor of the house stands out, as does the main stone door that serves as the main entrance to the interior of the house. At the back of the house is a beautiful wine press , which was used by the Soler family for centuries to make wine.

The Casa de los Soler is without a doubt one of the most important jewels of the historical-artistic heritage , not only of Vilaflor but of the entire south of Tenerife. It is a silent witness to the joys and sorrows of its distinguished residents over the centuries, and also a witness to the most tragic and violent events that happened to this family ; Such as the villagers' uprising against the Soler family in the mid-17th century, when they tore down the stone pillars of the house's gallery and forced the residents to hastily flee their home and take refuge in the mountains. The walls of this house also housed for several days the lifeless body of the last Marquis of the city: Don Alonso Chirino del Hoyo, VII Marquis de la Fuente de Las Palmas and holder of the Mayorazgo de Soler, until he was given a Christian burial in the main chapel of the now disappeared church of the Augustinian monastery of Vilaflor.

After the death of Don Alonso Chirino in 1840, the house passed through several family hands until after the decommissioning of Mendizábal, this aristocratic house was sold in 1899 to Don Tomás Bello Gómez for about 15,250 pesetas of that time, including in the sale the lands of the Huerta Grande, the pond and several shares of water.

Today the Soler family home belongs to the Cabildo Insular and the future use and enjoyment of the house belongs to the Municipal Council and the residents of Vilaflor de Chasna.

Willem Vandenameele