The yacht 'Christina', one of the most beautiful ever seen on the island, was white and blue, like the colors of the Tenerife flag.
Winston Churchill: an English bulldog in the Canary Islands
The historic visit of Winston Churchill to the Canary Islands
Winston Churchill, known as 'the English bulldog', visited the Canary Islands in February 1959 along with Greek magnate Aristótelis Onassis aboard the luxury yacht Christina . This event marked an important moment in the tourist and diplomatic history of the islands.
The yacht Christina and its arrival in Tenerife
The yacht Christina docked in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on February 21, 1959. It was white and blue, colors similar to those of the Canary flag. Onboard were Churchill and Onassis, along with a seaplane and an exclusive Fiat 500 Ghia Jolly displayed on the deck.
After disembarking, Churchill traveled through the streets of Tenerife in the small car driven by Onassis, heading to Puerto de la Cruz. His presence caused great excitement among the locals, many of whom still fondly remember that day.
A diplomatic and tourist twist
Churchill's visit had a political background. Spain, under Franco's regime, sought to project a more open image to the world. In that context, welcoming a prominent figure like Churchill—who had previously considered invading the Canary Islands during World War II—was an important symbolic gesture.
This openness aimed to boost tourism as an economic outlet for the country, something that would be solidified years later.
Curiosities of the stay in the Canary Islands
During his brief stop in La Palma, Churchill gifted a box of cigars to a local driver named Nelson, in honor of the famous English admiral. Churchill wrote: 'From Churchill to Nelson. Paradoxes of history.' The box is now housed at the Cabildo of La Palma.
Additionally, Churchill gladly accepted the nickname 'English bulldog' and owned a caricature of himself in the form of a dog, a gift from his British colleagues. This piece was sold years later and acquired by a collector linked to the Canary Islands.
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