The Canary Islands is a group of islands off the northwest coast of Africa, that belongs to Spain.

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands - 2,053 square kilometres - and it has the shape of a triangle. This island of eternal spring (because of its peerless climate) is full of huge contrasts and has a great variety of scenery in the different regions. A mountain chain runs through its centre; on both its slopes there are large, exuberantly fertile valleys, among them especially La Orotava and Gumar. In the heart of the chain there is a gigantic, natural crater, called Las Cañadas del Teide, which is about 29 km across and has officially been declared a National Park. It lies over 2,000m above sea level. North of the crater stands El Pico del Teide, a 3,718m high mountain, which is the highest point in Spain. It is snowcovered in the winter and marks the island with its unique silhouette.

Tenerife has an extremely varied plant life, large, wooded mountains, extensive areas where banana, tomato, potato and other agricultural products are grown. Its coast is rocky and lined by cliffs in some places, while in others there are beaches with soft, clean sand, which are sometimes black and sometimes golden.

Tenerife has a climate of its own, due in the first place to its geographical position in the Atlantic, near the African coast; secondly, because of its place in the path of the trade winds. The temperature variations between the different seasons are a mere 6°C between the warmest and the coldest month. The number of really good days varies from 90% in August to 50% in January; they are typically mild - 18°C to 24°C - with clean, fresh air, a rather high degree of humidity (80%) and a partially clouded sky in places lying east of the mountains and close to them. The so-called Canary current contributes to the mild climate. It keeps the surface temperature of the sea below that corresponding to the latitude. The mean temperature of the sea water is 22°C in the summer and 19°C in the winter.

The municipality of Arona is in the southern part of the island. This is an area with great tourist infrastructure (excellent hotels, great restaurants and many shopping possibilities), dry climat and facilities for every taste. Arona is famous for its beaches, with Playa de Las Americas the most well-known. Arona is served by the South Tenerife Airport, named after Queen Sophia of Spain. However, the Tenerife North Airport remains the main port of entry into the island.

How to reach Arona

The 2nd European Open Championships will take place at the Mare Nostrum Resort, a fully-air conditioned luxury tourist complex, in Arona, Tenerife.

Mare Nostrum Resort is a large complex of luxurious hotels. The well-established Mediterranean Palace and Sir Anthony Hotels and their newer sister-hotels, the Cleopatra Palace, Marco Antonio Palace and Julio Cesar Palace, plus the Piramide de Arona convention centre, make up this high quality resort. The complex is within easy reach of many shops and commercial centres, as well as a wide choice of cafes and restaurants.

Adjacent to the beach on the Los Cristianos side of Playa de Las Americas, the Mare Nostrum Resort has been created to provide guests with a wide choice of leisure and dining options within one complex. Overview forming three sides of a square, these up to the minute hotels are each relatively small, but with a big range of services available to all guests. Bordering the promenade, the Cleopatra overlooks the sea, while the two other hotels are at right angles to it. Relaxation between the trio is the Romanesque- style pool and terrace equipped with sun beds.

Sports facilities within the resort include tennis and squash courts mini-golf, gymnasium and aerobics room. There is a poolside bar service and numerous bars within the resort hotel area. There are also 12 restaurants within the five hotels, each featuring a different cuisine - French, Italian, Mexican, Spanish, Argentinian and Russian among them. Half- or full-board guests can enjoy their meals in any of them but advance reservations are recommended. Each hotel has its own breakfast room with a buffet choice of hot and cold dishes, breads, cereals and fruits.

For entertainment, there is regular live music in the Mediterranean Palace, while guests can enjoy theme evenings and a show at the Piramide de Arona at reduced prices. Special features include the Health and Beauty Centre in the Cleopatra Palace with a range of beauty treatments and therapies; sea trips on Mare Nostrum's own glass-bottomed boat at special rates, children playground, 3 pools at the Mediterranean Palace and one next to the Piramide de Arona, etc.

There are 199 rooms in the Cleopatra and 116 in each of the Julio Cesar and Marco Antonio. All are luxuriously equipped with bathroom, hairdryer, mini-bar, direct-dial telephone, satellite TV and balcony. Superior options include sea or pool view, junior suites and rooms and suites with private plunge pools. 24-hour room service.