Quinta Roja Gardens

From the top terrace, La Orotava falls away below you: church domes and tiled roofs first, then the long slope of the valley running down to Puerto de la Cruz and the sea. Turn round, and on a clear day Teide stands over the town.

The garden climbs to that point in terraces of flowerbeds and clipped hedges, with fountains along the way. At its head stands the white marble mausoleum of the Marquis of la Quinta Roja. He was a Freemason and was refused burial in the Catholic cemetery; the tomb raised for him here never received his body. The garden is small and very well kept, a place to sit for a while between the churches and mansions of the old town.

• Shade is limited, so bring sun cream on a sunny day.
• Free public toilets are about 80 m away.
• The tourist office is about 130 m away, useful for a map before walking the old town.
• A stand at the top holds your phone for a self-timer photo with the view behind you.

The garden sits in the old town, and the bus leaves you close by: the Escultor Estévez stop is about 135 m away, and the Ayuntamiento stop, named for the town hall, about 190 m. From either you walk the last stretch through the streets of the historic centre to the gate.

By car, do not count on the two car parks nearest the garden: the one about 124 m away is private, and the one about 155 m away is for customers only.

With a pushchair, use the way in on the west side.

Best: a clear morning.

Avoid: the middle of a hot day, and days when low cloud sits over the town.

The view to the coast and to Teide is the reason to come and needs a clear sky, cloud on the north of the island tends to build as the day goes on, and with little shade the garden is hard going in the midday sun.