Santa Cruz de La Palma is the capital city and principal port of the island. It has a population of 18,000 and an area of 45 sq km. At the centre of the town is the Plaza de Espana, the church of El Salvador and the old city hall, all dating from the 16th century. There is a also a naval museum, housed in a concrete replica of Christopher Columbus's flagship, the Santa Maria. There are numerous other buildings worth seeing, such as the Casa Salazar, now used for art exhibitions and the tourist information centre, and 'los balcones' on the sea-front. In the hills above the city is the sanctuary of Nuestra Senora de Las Nieves . This is a beautiful renaissance building from the 16th century, in which resides the image of Nuestra Senora de Las Nieves, the patron of the island. Every 5 years this is taken down to the city, where the famous fiesta of the Bajada de la Virgen is celebrated.
Santa Cruz de La Palma is the capital city and principal port of the island. It has a population of 18,000 and an area of 45 sq km. 
