Santa Úrsula not only borders La Orotava on the main road, but also at the beginning of the ravine of Barranco del Pino in the midlands area. The name of this district derives from the ubiquitous pine trees in the area. Although less known, this place has always been a place of conflict between the more rustic La Villa and Santa Úrsula. Such is the rivalry between the locals of Santa Úrsula’s Pino Alto and those of La Orotava’s, that they make a point to distinguish from which side they come, though above all they feel that they are from Pino Alto.
The Ravine of El Pino
The ravine of El Pino is an area of laurel forest where several species of animals and plants can be found to live such as Bolle’s pigeon, the white tailed laurel pigeon, the Canary Egyptian vulture, owls and some buzzards, as well as different species of insects such as the yellow butterfly.
On the other hand, we find scrub vegetation composed of wild plants and some kleinania neriifolias, which share space with pine and chestnut trees.
The Cross of Pino Alto
At the end of the district on the Santa Úrsula side, there is a small chapel with a cross made of pine wood that marks the border between both districts and recalls the festivities of the Cross of Pino Alto and Our Lady of El Pino, where both sides of the district lived together and crossed the ravine to celebrate until the disagreement grew so much that the festivities ended up only taking place on the side of La Orotava.
