Church of Santa Ana (Garachico)

The Church of Santa Ana (Spanish: Iglesia de Santa Ana) is the main church in Garachico, Tenerife. It is located next to the Plaza de la Libertad.[1] Originally constructed around 1520, it was rebuilt after the volcanic eruption of 1706.

Church of Santa Ana
Church of Santa Ana (Garachico) is located in Tenerife
Church of Santa Ana (Garachico)
Location within Tenerife
General information
Typechurch
LocationGarachico, Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Coordinates28°22′23″N 16°45′54″W / 28.37306°N 16.76500°W / 28.37306; -16.76500
Openedc. 1520

History

edit

In 1520, Cristobal de Ponte, the founder of Garachico, ceded a plot to construct the church. The dedication of the church to Saint Anne was inspired by his wife, Ana de Vergara.[2][1] Construction of the chancel had started by 1532, and had been completed by 1542.[3]

The Eruption of Trevejo (1706) severely affected the church, after which it was rebuilt[2] between 1714 and 1721,[1] with new walls and roofs,[4] following the original plans.[5]

 
Image of Christ of Mercy

The church was restored in the 1990s.[1] Three of its sculptures were restored in 2010.[4] Work to restore the tower started in 2014, and included the repair of the wooden structure, the external stonework,[6] the coatings and finishes, as well as the replacement of the electrical cabling and pavement, costing €253,000. It re-opened in 2016, after which it hosted several exhibitions.[7]

It was registered as a monument of cultural interest by the Cabildo de Tenerife in 2010, and is part of a group listing (conjunto historico) of properties of cultural interest in Garachico.[7]

Design and contents

edit

The facade combines elements from Plateresque and Renaissance architecture. The interior is divided into three parts, with a series of arches and columns. (In Spanish one says there are three naves; in English a nave and two side-aisles). There are a number of different altars,[1] some of which are Baroque,[5] as well as sculptures and paintings.[1]

The church houses an image of Christ of Mercy from Mexico,[2] made using the marrow of corn,[5] and a baptismal font made of marble in the 17th century.[2]

It also houses a museum of sacred art.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f Tenerife, Patea (4 November 2015). "Iglesia Matriz de Santa Ana en Garachico". Patea Tenerife (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "IGLESIA MATRIZ DE SANTA ANA - Lugares de Interés - Tenerife". www.webtenerife.com. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Arquitectura Religiosa". turismo.garachico.es. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Tres esculturas de la iglesia de Santa Ana de Garachico (Tenerife) serán restauradas". 20minutos.es - Últimas Noticias (in Spanish). 10 August 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  5. ^ a b c "Iglesia de Santa Ana: Información útil y fotos". EscapadaRural.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  6. ^ "Comienza la restauración de la torre de la Iglesia de Santa Ana, en Garachico (Tenerife)". Europa Press. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  7. ^ a b Algarra, Nuria Martinez (21 November 2016). "La torre de la iglesia de Santa Ana de Garachico albergará varias exposiciones". Diario de Tenerife (in European Spanish). Retrieved 3 July 2019.