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Legends and reality about Templar and Vandal treasures

Tenerife, the island of two treasures?

sunken shipwreck, deteriorated structure, sunken boats, fish swimming, seabed

Is the Templar Treasure Hidden in Tenerife?

There are theories suggesting that the treasure of the Templars could be hidden in Tenerife. It is a very popular legend, but it is important to separate myth from history: there is no documentary or archaeological evidence to support it.

The Order of the Temple was pursued in France starting in 1307 and was dissolved by the pope in 1312. Since then, legends have circulated about a Templar fleet that supposedly fled with the order's treasure, and some authors place it in Scotland, Portugal, or even the Canary Islands. However, no documents from the time mention Templar ships in the archipelago.

The connection between the Templars and Tenerife

Proponents of this theory point out that at the beginning of the 14th century, Genoese navigators like Lancelotto Malocello were already exploring the Canaries. They also mention the legends of Güímar about "men of light" dressed in white in the Badajoz ravine, also called Chamoco, a place surrounded by stories of mystery. But these are popular tales, not historical facts.

Another common argument is the image of the Virgin of Candelaria, dark-skinned, which some relate to the "black virgins" of Europe. According to tradition, the image appeared on the beach of Chimisay around the end of the 14th century and the Guanches venerated it, associating it with their mother goddess Chaxiraxi. There is nothing to indicate it is related to the Templars.

The Red Cross is the symbol of the Order of the Temple, also known as the Knights Templar, a medieval military religious order.

Are there more hidden treasures in Tenerife?

The other legend speaks of the treasure of the Vandals. In 533, the Byzantine general Belisarius defeated the Vandal king Gelimer in North Africa. His secretary, Bonifacio, loaded the royal treasure onto a ship bound for Hispania, but according to the historian Procopius, adverse winds prevented the ship from sailing, and Bonifacio ended up delivering the treasure to the Byzantines. Belisarius later took it to Constantinople.

Nonetheless, some believe that part of that treasure may have ended up in the Canaries. To support the theory, chroniclers are often cited who described some Guanches as light-skinned and light-haired, but today we know that the ancient Canarians came from North Africa, from Amazigh or Berber peoples, as genetic studies confirm.

Templar treasure in Tenerife

Where to search for the treasure?

Among the places most frequently mentioned in these legends are the Chamoco ravine, the Masca ravine, and the Degollada de Yeje. In Yeje, in Buenavista del Norte, there are rock engravings that archaeologists relate to the Guanche sun worship, although some enthusiasts want to see the Templar cross or "cross patée" in them.

In short, there is no proof that there is a Templar or Vandal treasure in Tenerife. But legends are part of the island's charm and provide a good excuse to visit places like the valley of Güímar or the west of Tenerife.

Conclusion

Tenerife has much more to offer than beaches and volcanoes. Its past is full of history, legends, and mysteries worth discovering, always distinguishing what myths tell from what historical sources say.

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