GEOGRAPHICAL DATA:

Surface: 31,09 square kilometers.

4,39% of the island of La Palma.

Altitude: 600 meters (municipal capital) .700 meters (Fagundo and El Roque). 500 meters (El Pinar). Distance by highway: 50 kilometers to Santa Cruz de La Palma.

- " Has 211 houses and some caves, distributed in four hills designated of San Mauro or San Amaro, in the one which exists the parochial church with this dedication; Pinar, separate of that for a deep quite ravine, in the one which there is a bridge to cross it; Fagundo, that is found divided of the first by a road that comes of the mentioned church; that of Roque, separate of this additionally ravine, though somewhat more spacious that the previous, the expressed input church, devoted to San Juan Bautista, serves it a parson, a sacristan and an acolyte. (...)

The area as a rule it is of median quality, with some trees. " -

(Madoz, Geographical Dictionary - Estadís, 1845-1850).

As other peoples of La Palma counted Puntagorda, from the first years of the conquest,

with mayor and officer.

Had, equally, its deposit of grains, established with the same social purposes with which were created the other in the island.

Concerning its parish, little is known on its origin and foundation; the fire devoured the parochial file in a happened fire, around the end of August of 1811, in the rector house.

However, basing us in which its shrine was the sixth benefit that was created in 1660, by real certificate of Felipe IV, after the three of the capital and those of Puntallana and San Andrés, we can deduce that it was one of the first built in the island. Confirm this hypothesis the fact of that the bishop Alzólaras, in 1571, manifesto - " by eyes sight " - that there was in Puntagorda a baptismal church, under the dedication of San Amaro.

In connection with this initial kernel was being developed the population, though the construction of the highway was running the ancient municipality of the field of the Pinar. A municipality that acquired Puntagorda by virtue of the Constitution of the State of 1812, being separated from the Chapter from the city.

The parochial shrine of Puntagorda is of recent construction. However, in it is found images originating from the primitive construction, some of interest.

This new shrine substituted to previous other that, as have said, disappeared in a fire in the tomorrow from the 31 of August from 1811. Of this only remains its ruins, some walls kept in foot and the reed-mace.

This shrine at the same time, was fruit of a previous reconstruction, carried out in 1707, of the primitive factory, to whose antiquity already we have made mention.

To cite, finally, the existence of several windmills, that give a characteristic air to the people, offering samples of its traditional laboriousness.

The base of the economy of Puntagorda is the agriculture.

Emphasize among the dryness products, the almond-tree, followed in importance by the potatoes, the vineyards, the cereals, hay plants and something of vegetables.

Lastly they have collected importance, however, the productions in the lands of irrigable, emphasizing in them the bananas, vegetables, potatoes, avocados and flowers.

Project in the municipal territory the presence of abundant quantity of pines, constituting a characteristic of the landscape of Puntagorda; is important, in this sense, El Fayal or Montaña de Lucía, similar in all to an avenue with centennial exemplary.

The agrarian property is very distributed in small plots, many of they with less than mean surface hectare.

The municipality remains guided westward palmero. The term descends by a great pending, from the crest peaks foreign of La Caldera, on 2.300 meters of altitude, until the coast. Its eastern limit is El Paso. For the north adjoins with Garafía, continuing the ravine of Izcagua. To the south, with Tijarafe, through ravine of Garome.

The coastal line, where is found the western extreme of the Island, appears strongly steep.

The municipality remains framed among two greater extent riverbeds, constituting a great hillside, widely furrowed by numerous huge ravines. Among these fields appear loins and big holes, where they have been developed the cultivation lands and the population.

Outstanding aspect of the relief constitute it the different cones of piroclastos, that appear forming a wide volcanoes field. These volcanic appliances are found generally very altered, as corresponds to its chronology, since form part of the Ancient Basaltic Series. In this way, here they are not appreciated recent eruptive demonstrations, that are concentrated in the southern sector of the island.

The situation, to lee of the trade, determines some dominant aridity characteristics. The rainfalls, upon remaining under the influence of the Atlantic tempests, they can become abundant, though very irregular.

Even though it has lost earthly, by the expansion of the cultivation, the pinegrove continues being the vegetable bulk more outstanding. In the hosiery fields, the pines appear among the cultivation and the houses. Many of these copies are pruned regularly for bed of the cattle, giving cause for trees long trunks, entirely outbreak covers and without hardly branches.

It is conserved the fayal-brezal, that it can appear as lowforest of the pinegrove. Scattered grow some dragos of good freightage. Already in the low fields, appear the tabaibales and cardonales. Among the cultivated kinds emphasize the vineyards and, above all, the almond trees, that characterize in good way to the municipality.

The coast of Puntagorda is considered as a protected natural space. Wide coastal strip, with a mean height among 200 and 250 meters. Formed by the succession of basaltic washes and caps of piroclastos, with alternation of almagres. The principal vegetation is a dense tabaibal, with abundant cardones. Interesting result also the variety from vegetable elements and the numerous nesting birds, in a place of great landscape beauty.

Furthermore, the municipality offers numerous very attractive corners, maximum in the months of January and February, when the almond trees are found in full flowering.

El Fayal is a recreational area, to the one which is acceded by the general highway Garafía-Las Tricias-Puntagorda, continuing a deviation toward the Barrio del Pinar.

A holiday of great tradition is that of San Mauro, celebrated 7 of September.

In relationship to its abundance, of such form that the almond constitutes one of the typical products of the municipality, is found the Holiday of the Almendrero (almond tree) in bloom, carried out the first February Sunday. Constitute an interesting cultural demonstration.

Among the local crafts, fits to emphasize the basil projects.

15 of January: San Mauro Abbot and 7 of October: Ntra. Mrs. of the Rosary.