Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, Religious monument in La Oliva, Spain.
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria is a church in La Oliva with three covered naves illuminated by round openings in the lateral sections. The prominent bell tower is built from dark stone and creates a striking focal point on the building's exterior.
The church was built in the 17th century and served as the site for major religious ceremonies for the island's upper classes. Its role as a center for worship and community gatherings continued through the 19th century.
Inside you can see religious paintings by Juan de Miranda, an 18th-century Canarian artist, including the central image of the Virgin of Candelaria. These works reflect the island's artistic tradition and the deep local devotion to the patron saint of the Canary Islands.
You can enter through the main door to reach the central nave, where a Catholic cross marks the primary worship space and helps orient visitors. Plan to visit during daylight hours to see the artwork and architectural details clearly in natural light.
The bell tower served a dual purpose, functioning both as a place to ring the church bells and as a defensive watchtower to monitor pirate attacks around the island. This secondary security role shows how church architecture at the time had to serve practical protection needs.
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