Cueva de Chinguaro, Cave church in Güímar, Tenerife, Spain.
Cueva de Chinguaro is a cave church in Güímar that developed within a natural rock formation. The interior features a dome-shaped ceiling and has been arranged as a sacred space for worship.
The cave was originally the residence of Mencey Acaimo, the Guanche king of Güímar, before becoming a Christian sanctuary in the 15th century. This transformation reflects the religious reshaping of the island following Spanish conquest.
The site connects to the veneration of the Guanche goddess Chaxiraxi, later identified with the Virgin of Candelaria by Spanish clergy. Visitors can observe today how two religious traditions are woven together within the cave space.
Access to the cave church is possible year-round, though visitors should be prepared for uneven ground and steps. Religious ceremonies take place mainly during Candlemas celebrations in February when visitor numbers increase.
Archaeological research using carbon dating reveals that people lived in the cave across many centuries of the island's past. This extended occupation history makes the site an important record of human presence on the island.
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