On 11 March 2010, the Canary Islands Council of Government awarded the Villa de Granadilla de Abona the status of 'Historic'. The award was based on its status as the last stronghold of resistance to the conquest of the Canary Islands and the fact that it hosted the visit of Ferdinand Magellan's fleet, as early as 1st October 1519, on his first voyage around the world.
This award is based on the favourable report issued on 20 January 2010 by the Heraldic Commission of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands, in which it states that there is sufficient merit to obtain this dignity. Several facts of great relevance stand out:
The condition of being the last stronghold of resistance to the conquest of the Canary Islands. Although the menceyatos of the south, including that of Abona, were classified as menceyatos of peace, due to their peaceful submission to the Castilians; the fighters of the upper area of what is now Granadilla were the protagonists of the last resistance.
They hosted the visit of Ferdinand Magellan's fleet, as early as 1st October 1519, on his first voyage around the world. On this voyage, Magellan and a large number of his sailors lost their lives. Only eighteen sailors, captained by Juan Sebastián Elcano, reached Spanish port alive. The epic that Ferdinand Magellan began as the proposer and leader of the expedition and which culminated in Juan Sebastian Elcano, after being elected leader by the survivors (once Magellan and his successors in command had died), in the middle of the voyage 'The First Round the World' (Circunsmundi), was the most important feat accomplished by modern man, up to that time, together with the discovery of America, and which had crucial consequences in the history of humanity.
Other merits of notorious importance: its 'hegemonic' role within the region of the south of Tenerife, during several centuries, highlighting its preponderant commercial importance during the XVII, XVIII and XIX centuries, and the fact of having the largest number of Assets of Cultural Interest of the whole region, which is an effective demonstration of its hegemony, and of its influence and importance in the History of the island of Tenerife.
The dossier has been processed in accordance with the procedure foreseen in the Order of 15 November 1990, which provides for the application of the procedures foreseen in Decree 123/1990, of 29 June, which regulates the procedure to be followed for the approval, by the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands, of heraldic coats of arms, coats of arms, coats of arms, coats of arms, coats of arms and coats of arms of the Canary Islands, of heraldic coats of arms, coats of arms and flags of the islands and municipalities of the archipelago, to the proceedings being processed for the granting to local corporations of treatments, honours and distinctions, as well as for the granting to islands and municipalities of titles, mottos and dignities (BOC n. No. 147 of 26 November 1990). This title was granted following the request for the proposal made by the Department of Institutional Relations on 30 September 2008, which was brought to the plenary session and approved unanimously.