Adeje Council has invited the entire Gomeran community, both from the municipality itself and from Tenerife and La Gomera, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the twinning of Adeje and the ‘Columbus Island’ this coming Saturday, October 14th, at 7:30 pm.
The Mayor of Adeje, José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga, stated that "This year the celebrations have special significance. We are marking 25 years of a bond that has strengthened our community and enriched Adeje's culture.
“A quarter of a century ago, our neighbouring island gave us an invaluable gift: a replica of the ‘La Virgen de Guadalupe’, which has found its home in the hermitage of San Sebastián. It is a symbol of the unity and fraternity between our two communities, reminding us that many Adeje families have their roots in La Gomera."
The commemorative event will begin at 7:30 pm at the Plaza de la Cruz del Llano in Adeje, where an official reception of representatives from La Gomera will take place, as well as the statue of La Virgen de Guadalupe, preserved in the hermitage of San Sebastián. This statue was donated by La Gomera to Adeje 25 years ago, created by the sculptor José Luis de León. After the official reception, a procession will start towards the main church, Santa Úrsula.
History of Twinning
The historical ties between Adeje and La Gomera have been a fundamental pillar in the development of both communities. The connections between these two lands date back to pre-colonial times when the Guanches (the original aborigine inhabitants) had connections with La Gomera, using rafts as a means of travel, as noted by the historian Bethencourt Alfonso.
After the arrival of Spanish colonizers, historical records show Gomerans settling in Adeje. Figures like Juan de Armas and his son Antón were already residents of Adeje from 1519, and other documents mention the presence of Gomerans in the territory, such as Margarita de Armas and Pedro Vargas in 1525.
A particularly relevant connection was established through the Ponte family, Marquises and Lords of Adeje. Marital alliances between Juan Bautista de Ponte and Mariana de Ponte with the Count of La Gomera, Diego de Herrera, indissolubly united the titles of the County of La Gomera and the Marquisate of Adeje.
The historical archive of the Adeje Casa Fuerte houses an abundance of documentation related to the history of La Gomera, including disputes between the Gomerans and the Counts, records of harvests in the fields, and other documents key to our understanding of the history of the island.
In the 20th century, with the expansion of large banana and tomato export estates, there was a massive migration of Gomerans to Adeje in search of job opportunities and prosperity. Neighbourhoods like Las Nieves, Fañabé, Armeñime, Tijoco, and Los Olivos became home to these families, who contributed significantly to local agriculture and settled permanently in Adeje, but never losing their connection to their Gomeran roots.
