###### Abstract  
The use of 3D visualization technologies offers a unique opportunity to reconstruct historical cities that no longer exist or have been substantially modified. In this paper, we use the oldest preserved map of the city of San Cristobal de La Laguna, created in 1588 by the engineer [PERSON], as the basis for its 3D virtual recreation. This map shows the first non-fortified Spanish colonial city whose plan provided a model for the colonial cities in America. These distinct features made San Cristobal de La Laguna a UNESCO world heritage site. In our work, we present a map-based workflow for 3D reconstruction that balances fidelity to the original map with the integration of other historical sources and the current status of the city. This leads to the development of several 3D models from those distinct sources whose integration provides the 3D reconstruction of the city in the 16 th century. The results of this project can be applied to other similar maps that were created in Europe at that time. 3D city reconstruction; virtual reality; computer graphics; historical maps; heritage 20232  
virtual reality experiences, we can gain a better understanding of the city's development and significance in history. This can enhance our appreciation of its CH and aid in its promotion and conservation. This study exemplifies an increasing dedication to preserving and restoring CH while promoting its management, analysis, and dissemination. Over time, various processes and events, such as human actions, urban pressures, or natural disasters, can irreversibly deteriorate CH. Therefore, it is essential to maintain a permanent record of objects and places that contributes to their long-term preservation [3]. The research, conservation, and restoration of cultural heritage artefacts and sites are complex endeavours that are usually approached from a multidisciplinary perspective, involving architects, archaeologists, art historians, artists, sociocultural managers, computer scientists, and engineers, among others. The use of 3D digital models offers an effective solution to the ongoing need for documenting and conserving CH components. With the advancements in data capture methods and 3D representation, these models are widely used to facilitate the analysis of various factors related to CH. These factors may include population demographics, natural disasters, climate change, the effects of war, or urban evolution [4]. In addition, 3D models have demonstrated their usefulness in creating interactive and immersive content that users can explore and manipulate. As a result, 3D models are an invaluable tool for communicating and promoting CH [5; 6]. Geographical information has been widely used to analyse urban areas from historical periods, especially for periods not too far removed from the present. This method involves topographic surveys and aerial images, which allows the creation of 3D models that can be used to study urban transformations [7]. These models are created by integrating information from various sources, including historical maps, photographs, drawings, and written descriptions of tangible heritage elements, along with 3D data. If visual information is lacking, textual descriptions from historians and archaeologists are often used to supplement it, as noted by [8]. Currently, there are two main techniques for generating 3D models of cities: data-based and procedural generation techniques, which can also be combined. In data-based techniques, information is collected using sensors such as satellite or aerial images, LIDAR, or laser scans. Algorithms are then used to transform this information into polygons [9; 10; 11]. Procedural generation techniques, on the other hand, start with a simple collection of elements that are replicated and combined using information about the overall structure of the object, which guides the process of model generation [12; 13; 14]. Several studies have been conducted on the creation of 3D models of historical cities.