Church of San Juan Bautista, Arico

The Church of San Juan Bautista in Arico is one of the oldest religious buildings in southern Tenerife, standing at the heart of Villa de Arico in the Canary Islands. The structure reflects centuries of rebuilding — from a modest hermitage to an imposing 18th-century parish church — and remains the town's most important historical landmark.

How do you get there?

Arico sits in the south of Tenerife, a short drive from the TF-1 motorway that connects Santa Cruz with the island's southern resorts. Driving is the most practical option, since the town centre offers plenty of parking and the church stands right on the main square. Travellers without a car can use TITSA local buses from Playa de las Américas or Los Cristianos, though the journey takes longer than driving. The exact coordinates are 28.166247, -16.501003, which is enough to set a route in any navigation app.

What will you see?

The story of the church begins in the second half of the 16th century, when Captain Juan González Gómez founded a small hermitage dedicated to Saint John the Baptist in Arico. At that time the settlement belonged to the parish of San Pedro de Vilaflor, the main parish covering the entire south of the island. In 1639, following a request from local residents, the hermitage was granted independent parish status, and a new church building went up during the 17th century.

The building visitors see today results from a far more ambitious rebuilding that began in 1747. The design and construction are credited to Juan de Armas, while Juan Perera was responsible for the elaborate wooden coffered ceilings, known locally as artesonado. The interior follows a single nave joined by a main chapel and two side chapels, together forming a Latin-cross layout. These coffered ceilings, together with the proportions of the interior, are considered the building's most valuable architectural feature.

Inside, the church keeps a small Gothic image of Our Lady of Abona, patroness of southern Tenerife and the honorary, lifelong patron and "mayoress" of the municipality of Arico. For many visitors, this figure is as much a highlight of the visit as the architecture itself.

In 2005 the church was officially recognised as a site of historic and artistic value, confirming its importance to the island's heritage. In recent years, restoration work has covered the tower, the roofing and the wooden ceilings, helping the building keep its original character for decades to come.

When should you visit?

The church can be visited year-round, though the interior is best seen during Mass or during the parish's opening hours — it is worth checking the current schedule locally or at the municipal tourist office, since the building is not run as a museum with fixed visiting hours. Arico comes especially alive around 24 June, the feast day of Saint John the Baptist, the parish's patron saint, when the town holds its local patronal festivities. It is also worth combining the visit with a walk through the historic centre of Villa de Arico, which has kept its Canarian, small-town character and sees far fewer visitors than the coastal resorts.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the Church of San Juan Bautista in Arico? Its roots go back to the late 16th century, when the original hermitage was founded. The current building has been standing since construction started in 1747, following an earlier 17th-century church.

Who designed the current church? The construction is attributed to Juan de Armas, while the distinctive coffered ceilings were the work of Juan Perera.

What is the most important artwork inside the church? The Gothic image of Our Lady of Abona, patroness of southern Tenerife, along with the coffered ceilings arranged in a Latin-cross plan.

Is the church a protected heritage site? Yes. It has been recognised as a site of historic and artistic value since 2005, and it recently underwent restoration work on its tower and roofing.