Discover Candelaria: Culture, Pilgrimage Traditions and Coastline

Choose Candelaria by travel interest

If you are looking for a hotel in Candelaria, start by considering which aspects of the town you want to shape your stay: religious traditions and architecture, ceramic crafts, or hiking trails and coastal scenery. The themes range from the sanctuary and its feast days to old pilgrimage routes and a coastline shaped by rocks, sea and vegetation.

Basilica, square and religious heritage

The Basílica y Real Santuario Mariano de Nuestra Señora de Candelaria is designed in the regionalist style. Three naves with Mudéjar-style roofs lead to the crossing, above which rises a 25-metre-high dome. The 45-metre-high central tower stands to one side and features a Canarian balcony balustrade. The basilica is considered the patronal church of the Canary Islands and was the archipelago’s first Marian temple.

The Cueva de Achbinico, also known as the Ermita de San Blas, was the first Marian temple in Candelaria and a meeting point between European and Indigenous cultures. Its historical significance is therefore distinct in scope from the basilica’s status as the archipelago’s first Marian temple. Beside the basilica, the Plaza de la Patrona de Canarias opens out towards the sea. The square hosts the most important festivals and events in the Villa de Candelaria; the current bronze Menceyes sculptures were created by José Abad.

Festivals on fixed calendar dates

During the Fiestas de Candelaria, the Ceremonia Guanche is a central, characteristic portrayal of the discovery of the image of the Virgin of Candelaria. The ritual takes place every year on 14 August at dusk. On 15 August, the apparition of Our Lady of Candelaria is celebrated; on this day, people from across the island make a pilgrimage to the basilica. The liturgical feast of Our Lady of Candelaria falls on 2 February. Details of the festival programme may vary, so it is worth checking the latest dates before your trip.

Ceramics, crafts and church

The Centro alfarero Casa de las Miquelas comprises three rooms. It explores the town’s traditional trades, the process of making traditional ceramics, and a collection of vessels and traditional clothing; it also includes a workshop. The focus is therefore on the craft and its objects. The Iglesia de Santa Ana offers a different insight into the town’s history: it was founded by local residents in 1575. Inside are an image of Santa Ana dating from the 18th century and a Baroque wooden carving of Christ on the Cross from the 17th century.

Hiking trails and coastal scenery

The local hiking network includes more than twenty traditional routes. Seven of them were approved in 2007 by the Cabildo de Tenerife and the Federación Canaria de Montañismo, and meet optimal standards for safety, cleanliness and trail marking for hiking in nature. Conditions on individual trails may change, so check the status of the relevant route before setting out.

The Camino Viejo de Candelaria is a 21.2-kilometre-long historic royal road. It is associated with the veneration of the Virgin of Candelaria, patron saint of the Canary Islands, and has served as a pilgrimage route for worshippers and other users since the 16th century. Access conditions may vary. The coastal path through the Samarines area follows Candelaria’s natural coastline. The route provides access to beaches, cliffs, coastal platforms and sea caves. Rocks, sea and vegetation shape the landscape, which includes tabaibal vegetation as well as traditional shellfish gathering and fishing.

Plan your journey and stay

Several TITSA bus routes connect Candelaria with Santa Cruz, the south of Tenerife and other nearby municipalities. As routes and timetables may change, check the latest connections before travelling. The different themes offer useful pointers when planning your hotel stay: festivals have fixed annual dates, while hiking depends on conditions on the ground. First decide whether architecture, ceramics, festivals or trails will shape your stay.

Discover more destinations: Igueste De Candelaria, Las Cuevecitas De Candelaria, Malpais, Los Silos, Tegueste, Arico el Nuevo, Las Cruces, Chamorga.

For the broader travel overview: Tenerife.