The Hispania Nostra association, which aims to safeguard cultural and natural heritage in Spain, has placed the Hacienda de los Brieres in Garachico on its red list due to the danger of its potential disappearance.
“It is in an extremely poor condition, abandoned and pillaged over the recent decades,” warns Hispania Nostra, highlighting the lack of specific protection measures in place.
The scientific committee of Hispania Nostra has added this estate to its red list fearing it could eventually end up on the black list (either being completely lost or having its values irrevocably altered), in the hope that awareness will be raised, allowing it to be shifted to the green list once the threat has been mitigated.
According to Hispania Nostra, the Hacienda de los Brieres was established by Flemish merchants Conrado Brier and his father-in-law Juan Flaniel during the 17th century on the outskirts of Garachico, set in a rural environment where the other estates were under the control of the island’s aristocracy.
This property is a distinctive building, privately owned, exemplifying a suburban country estate, featuring a family home and various irrigated plots that extend along the slopes of San Pedro.
Throughout its history, it has been cultivated with vineyards, banana trees, and other fruit-bearing plants.
It withstood the devastating volcanic eruption in 1706 and remains under the ownership of its descendants.
The edifice faces the sea, situated at the foot of the Camino Real, which connects Daute with the Valley of Santiago and Guía de Isora.
It is a U-shaped structure open to the south, raised at the base of the Camino Real de Daute.
The main house housed the agricultural operations on its lower level, while the second or noble floor served as the family residence, offering the same comforts as a town house.
Presently, there are 1,435 heritage sites on the red list across Spain, with 26 located in the Canary Islands.
Hispania Nostra initiated its red list in 2007 to provide society with a means to engage in the protection, conservation, and enhancement of its cultural and natural heritage and to highlight those assets facing the risk of being lost, destroyed, or having their fundamental values altered.
The Scientific Committee of the Red List comprises a group of professionals who, on a voluntary basis, review and assess each application submitted for inclusion in the Red List, making decisions on whether to accept it.
They also evaluate the removal of items and their addition to the Green List for those assets no longer threatened, or transfer to the Black List for those that have lost their heritage value irreversibly or have ceased to exist.
Individuals can submit requests via the website to add a threatened cultural or natural asset to the red list, or to inform of changes and updates to assets already listed in the red or green categories.