| Candelaria | |
| Map | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Autonomous region: | Canary Islands (Spain) |
| Province: | Santa Cruz de Tenerife (province) |
| Island: | Tenerife |
| Area: | 49.52 km² |
| Population: | 25,140 (2010) |
| Population density: | 457.04/km² |
| Elevation: Lowest: Centre: Highest: |
Atlantic Ocean 5 m western part |
| Location: | |
| Municipal code: | E-35011 |
| Car designation: | TF |
Candelaria or "Villa Mariana de Candelaria" (in Spanish) is a municipality and city in the southeast part of the island of Tenerife in the Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on the Canary Islands, Spain. The city is also a suburban area of the Santa Cruz City area. Candelaria is located 20 km SSW of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (City). The town is noted by Catholics in Spain and Latin America as a place of veneration of the Virgin of Candelaria near the apparition. The place is visited mainly by Catholic canaries who come on pilgrimage. The Virgin of Candelaria is the patron of the Canary Islands, (Spanish:"La Virgen de Candelaria"). The most prominent and famous is the Basilica of Candelaria, which include the sculpture of the Virgin Mary (Virgin of Candelaria) and the mural paintings of the temple. Also highlighted in the square, statues of the nine aboriginal kings of Tenerife. The sanctuary has the category of Cultural Interest.
The population is 25,140 (INE, 2010), its density is 457.04 /km² and the area is 48.52 km². El Rosario is linked with the old highway linking Abona and Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the TF1 Motorway which encircles the eastern and the southern portions of the island.
Its economy is based on commerce, tourism and some agriculture. The urban area and some farmland dominates the coastline area. There are farmlands in the valley areas and in the mountains with grasslands and some forests to the west.
In the times of the Guanches, the region was part of the menceyato, or kingdom, of Güímar. A cave is situated around Candelaria. The famous Festival de la Canción de Candelaria is a festivity which is one of the most important on the island. It celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2005.
For the Tinerfeños and the Canaries in general, Candelaria is like Fátima (Portugal) or Guadalupe (Mexico).
Contents |
In pre-Hispanic epochs this zone pertained to Güímar's aboriginal Menceyato. It was accepted that the aboriginal name of the zone was simply "Güímar" as the whole menceyato. After the conquest, this zone happened to be called "Candelaria", in honor to the virgin patron of the archipelago, the Virgin of Candelaria.
The town of Candelaria is surrounded by several prehistoric caves, where burials have been found containing mummies of the Guanches, whose burial process is very similar to the treatment of the pharaohs in Egypt.
In 1390, the current Candelaria was a solitary and deserted place where the shepherds would frenguent the Guanches of Güimar's menceyato (Güímar's pre-Hispanic kingdom). One evening, two natives who were leading his cattle, saw some goats come to the mouth of the ravine. The natives found, on a rock, the Holy Image of the Virgin of Candelaria (declared principal patron saint of the Canary Islands with posteriority).
The image was found in a beach near to Candelaria, initially the image was moved to Cueva de Chinguaro, which was the palace of the King of Güímar.
But later, the same guanches moved her to Cueva de Achbinico in Candelaria, and there it has been venerated since then. At first the aboriginals identified her with the appearance of their goddess Chaxiraxi (the mother of the gods), but later the Christian conquerors explained that the image was the Virgin Mary. Later a hermitage was constructed and later the Basilica was constructed to Santa Maria.
Nowadays Candelaria is the principal catholic center of peregrination of Canaries and one of the principal ones of Spain.
The current image of the Virgin of Candelaria is to dress. The image always turns out to be covered by mantles and jeweler's shop, also she is curiously very venerated by the Hindu community of the Canaries, they refer to her as the black virgin. The image goes out in procession every February 2 (day of The Candelaria) and August 15 (day of the Patron of Canaries). The latter date is linked to a former aboriginal celebration (Beñesmen, the crop). It is believed that the Virgin Mary appeared on these dates.
Nowadays, the municipality is visited by thousands of people, not only devout to the Virgin of Candelaria, but tourists exploring the Canary culture.
| Year | Population | Density |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 10,688 | – |
| 1996 | 12,392 | – |
| 2001 | 14,247 | 345.17/km² |
| 2002 | 15,980 | – |
| 2003 | 17,938 | 362.77/km² |
| 2004 | 19,197 | 389.23/km² |
| 2005 | 20,628 | 416.56/km² |
| 2007 | 22,477 | 457,04/km² |
| 2010 | 25,140 | 511,18/km² |
The municipality has a beach located to the east and is famous for tourism. Candelaria's municipality receives the annual peregrination of Candelaria (on February 2 and on August 15, the latter is the most important), as well as to the pilgrims who visit the municipality in all other epochs of the year. The principal stops of any visit are the Basilica of Candelaria and Cueva de Achbinico.
The current basilica dates back of 1959, it was constructed on a former hermitage. When you leave the basilica you stand out on the belfry coast, to your feet one finds the Plaza de la Patrona de Canarias. Since the image of the Virgin was appearing on the beach of Chimisay, around 1392, the first great Sanctuary to the Virgin of Candelaria was constructed in 1668. Later with the increase of the peregrinations of the devout ones, there was created the need to construct a bigger temple (the current basilica), which has capacity for 5,000 persons.
The basilica is in the south part of the city, adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. Close to the Plaza de la Patrona de Canarias they find the bronze statues of 9 aboriginal kings. Next to the basilica is the Dominican convent religious order in charge of the sanctuary. The basilic also has a large collection of wall paintings. The temple and Royal Basilica Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Candelaria, is considered the main temple dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the Canary Islands.[1]
Also so called Cave of San Blas, it was the first Christian temple of Canary Islands, in this place the original inhabitants of the Canary Islands produced worship to the Virgin of Candelaria. According to recent archaeological layers of ash found and submitted for consideration are carbon-14 dating back over three thousand years. In this cave a fire was kept on permanently, something like the temple of the Vestal Virgins of ancient Rome.[2]
Candelaria has schools, lyceums, a few gymnasia, banks, churches, beaches and squares plazas.
| Northwest: La Matanza de Acentejo | North: El Rosario | |
| West: Santa Úrsula and La Victoria de Acentejo | Candelaria | East: Atlantic Ocean |
| South: Arafo |