Church of the Immaculate Conception (La Orotava)

The best example of baroque architecture in the Canary Islands

The Church of the Immaculate Conception (Iglesia de la Concepción) is in the historic centre of Villa de La Orotava, in the north of Tenerife, and is the best example of baroque architecture in the Canary Islands. It was built in the 18th Century on the site of a small church constructed after the Castilian conquest at the end of the 15th Centiury.

The most characteristic architectural feature of the church is its enormous dome, which presides over the church and is inspired by Florence Cathedral. The bell towers rise 24 metres high, resulting in one of the most imposing religious buildings on the island.

Inside the church, there are four chapels: the Capilla del Calvario, the Capilla de la Candelaria, the Capilla de las Ánimas, and the Capilla de San Pedro. Its three naves are divided by three huge Ionic columns decorated with Corinthian order capitals. The High Altar is presided over by a marble tabernacle created by the artist Giuseppe Gaggini.

The church holds an incredible pictorial heritage, with various sculptures, oil paintings, and gold work, which date from the 15th Century onwards.

Sacred Art

Over the centuries, the Church of the Immaculate Conception has succeeded in accumulating a large collection of Catholic art, and as a result, a small museum was created intside the church to bring all of these works together in a space known as “The Treasure of La Conception”.

The collection is one of the most valuable collections of artistic heritage on the archipelago, and occupies the north sacristy with the antechamber, the treasure room, the chorus, the south sacristy, and the chapterhouses of the church.

It is open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday between 10am – 1pm.

More information can be found here.

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Calle Cólogan, 2, 38300 La Orotava
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