In Tenerife’s eerie ghost town, Sanatorio de Abona, which was built to quarantine leprosy victims

Tenerife is known for its incredible volcanic landscape and as a party paradise for sun seekers.

But there is also an eerie, disturbing side to the island – in the form of a ghost town.

The Sanatorio de Abona on the southeast coast of the island was designed as a leper colony in 1943.

The half-finished church in the purpose-built city that was supposed to house sick people to prevent the spread of leprosy. After the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, there were around 200 cases of leprosy in Tenerife

The parish, designed by Spanish architect José Enrique Marrero Regalado, was to include 40 buildings, including a church, hospital, crematorium and apartment blocks

After the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, there were around 200 cases of leprosy in Tenerife.

The only remedy was to isolate the sick as there was no cure available at the time.

Spanish architect José Enrique Marrero Regalado designed a quarantine station for patients, and officials picked a secluded location on the coast for the small, purpose-built town. It was believed that the warm sea air would help keep bacteria at bay.

The parish should include 40 buildings, including a church, hospital, crematorium and apartment blocks.

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A look inside one of the abandoned buildings in the ghost town. Over the years the site has been used for rallies and festivals

In the 1960s the site was used as a military camp and there were plans to develop it into a resort after an Italian developer bought the land but the development was not approved

Officials picked a remote location off the coast for the small, purpose-built town. The warm sea air is said to help keep bacteria at bay

The discovery of dapsone, a bactericidal drug, made the sanatorium obsolete and construction stopped and the semi-finished buildings abandoned.

In the 1960s the site was used as a military camp and there were plans to develop it into a resort after an Italian developer bought the land but the development was not approved.

Today the Sanatorio de Abona serves as a tourist attraction off the beaten path and was also used for rallies and festivals. Graffiti adorn many buildings.

Travel writer Jack visited the ghost town in 2013 and said it had a somewhat disturbing atmosphere.

He wrote of The Real Tenerife: “The other strange thing about the ghost town is that it sits like a shadow next to a new development in Abades on the Arico coast.

“If anything, the ghost town with its church looks more like a real city than a small settlement underneath that looks more like an out of place housing scheme.”

Before the town was completed, effective leprosy treatment was found in 1945. The discovery of dapsone, a bactericidal drug, made the sanatorium redundant and construction ceased

Today the Sanatorio de Abona serves as a tourist attraction off the beaten path

A travel writer who visited the ghost town in 2013 said it had a somewhat disturbing atmosphere.