Its name translated as Slaughter of Acentejo in Spanish, an encounter which the Spanish won in 1494. The town is located north off the coast of the island.
Specifically it is located 15 km E of Puerto de la Cruz, about 23 km SSW of the island's capital, NE of Los Cristianos and Las Américas of Arona and WSW of the Los Rodeos Airport.
The town’s population stands at 7,490 in 2003, with its density at 448.77/km² and its area 14.11 km². Having an elevation of 520 m. Santa Úrsula is linked with the superhighway and the old highway linking Icod de los Vinos and the capital.
Farmlands are situated in the valley areas and within the Atlantic while urban areas covers much of the land and the mountain and the hills to the south. Its climate is suitable for vegetation.
Originally much of the area were made up of farmlands and ilater on most of the farmlands are urbanized as majorit of the population shifted from rural to urban and tourism. The population is mainly urban today, with an economy driven by agriculture and tourism.
Before the Spanish came Acentejo was part of the menceyato (kingdom) of Taoro Two battles of Acentejo took place in 1494.
Led by one Alonso Fernandez de Lugo the Spanish sustained a terrible loss in the first battle at the place currently called La Matanza ("The Slaughter").
It occurred in present-day Barranco de San Antonio, called Farfan by the Guanches. The second battle was won by the Spaniards which resulted in the founding of the town La Victoria de Acentejo.
