Convento de Nuestra Señora de Candelaria

Convento de Nuestra Señora de Candelaria is a Dominican convent standing right next to the Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria, in the heart of the town of Candelaria on Tenerife's eastern coast. For nearly five centuries the site has been tied to the veneration of the patron saint of the Canary Islands, making it a natural stop alongside a visit to the basilica itself.

What is the history behind the convent?

The first chapel built to house the image of the Virgen de Candelaria dates back to 1526. Four years later, the Bishop of the Canary Islands, Luis Cabeza de Vaca, entrusted the image and the chapel to the Dominican Order, which has cared for the cult of the Virgin ever since, without interruption. In the second half of the 17th century a larger, three-nave church was raised on the same site where the current complex stands. That building did not survive, though — on 15 February 1789 a fire destroyed both the church and the adjoining friary. The Dominican convent was rebuilt in 1803, and, after later alterations, that structure is still the one standing beside the basilica today.

What can you see on site?

Visiting Candelaria, it makes sense to take in the convent as part of a wider whole together with the square in front of the basilica, where monumental statues of the menceyes — the ancient Guanche rulers of Tenerife — stand in a row. The convent itself is less of a tourist draw than the neighbouring basilica, but it stands as a living record of the Dominicans' centuries-long presence here and helps make sense of the religious and historical context of the whole sacred complex. Walking around the convent buildings and the square gives good vantage points over the church facade and the ocean the town looks out onto.

How do you get to Candelaria?

Candelaria lies about 20 kilometres south of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, along the TF-1 motorway that runs down the island's eastern coast. Regular TITSA buses connect it with both Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz, and the convent-basilica complex sits right in the town centre, within walking distance of the bus stop and the main car park by the seafront promenade.

When is the best time to visit?

The most distinctive time of year is 14–15 August, when Candelaria celebrates its patron saint's feast with processions and re-enactments of the legend of the Virgin's image being found on the beach. Outside that period the town is far quieter, which makes for an unhurried visit to both the basilica and the adjoining convent without the crowds of pilgrims.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the convent? The building is an active Dominican friary, so access to its interior is generally limited — visitors typically view it from the outside and focus their visit on the neighbouring basilica.

What's the difference between the convent and the basilica? The basilica is the main church holding the image of the Virgen de Candelaria, while the convent is the attached friary where Dominicans have lived and served since 1530, overseeing the cult of the Virgin.

Why does the current building only date from the 19th century? The earlier, 17th-century complex burned down in a fire on 15 February 1789. The convent was rebuilt in 1803 and has stood in that form ever since.

Is it worth combining the visit with the rest of the town? Yes — the square in front of the basilica with its menceyes statues, the seafront promenade, and Candelaria's historic centre form a coherent whole with the convent that can easily be covered in one unhurried walk.