Iglesia de la Concepción, Catholic church in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Iglesia de la Concepción is a parish church in Tenerife featuring a Latin cross floor plan with five naves, side chapels, and a domed transept. The building displays characteristic colonial architectural elements throughout its interior layout.
The church was founded in 1500 to replace an earlier chapel built by Spanish conquistadors following their arrival on the Añazo coast. This establishment marked the beginning of a spiritual center that developed alongside the city's growth.
The church holds the Founding Cross brought by Alonso Fernández de Lugo and displays tombstones of important figures from the city's past. This space connects the early days of conquest with the memory of prominent residents whose remains rest within these walls.
Inside the church, visitors can see the 1862 organ built by English craftsmen Bevington and Sons, representing fine 19th-century organ building. The instrument remains well-preserved, showing the detailed craftsmanship of that era.
This building is the only five-nave church in the Canary Islands and also houses a relic fragment believed to be from the cross of Jesus Christ. These two features make it an exceptional religious site in the region.
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