Iglesia de San Marcial de Rubicón, cultural property in Yaiza, Spain
The Iglesia de San Marcial de Rubicón is a small church in the village of Yaiza on Lanzarote with a straightforward structure built from white and reddish volcanic stone. The building features a simple single nave, a small bell tower at the front, and houses a wooden statue of the saint from the 18th century.
A first church at this site was established in 1404 by the conquerors Jean de Béthencourt and Gadifer de La Salle, who had subdued Lanzarote shortly before. After destruction by English pirates in 1593, the present building was constructed roughly 350 meters away and later served as a refuge during the major volcanic eruptions of the 1730s.
The church is dedicated to Saint Marcial of Limoges, a French bishop from the 3rd century who serves as the patron saint of Lanzarote. Inside, wooden ship models decorate the white walls, representing prayers from fishermen who sought protection for their safe return home.
The church sits on elevated ground with views over the surrounding mountains and is easily reached on foot. The interior space is open and straightforward to walk through, with plenty of room to move around and explore the different areas.
The name Rubicón comes from a reddish coastline that is clearly visible from the sea and originates from the nearby red volcano Montaña Roía. This geographic marker helped the conquistadors navigate and made the location an important landing point in the early history of the island.
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