A small rock in the Atlantic: 14/06/2009

The Best Baroque Altarpieces in the Canary Islands

This is the main altarpiece in The church of Our Lady of Candelaria (Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Candelaria) in Tijarafe. According to the books, it's the best baroque altarpiece in the Canary Islands. It's certainly gorgeous, and huge.

It was made by Antonio de Orbarán, and he worked on it from 1626 to 1628. It cleverly combines niches with statues and painted panels.

The church itself was built around 1530, but various enlargements and renovations went on from 1571 until the start of the 18th century.

Mass is held on Fridays, Sundays and public holidays at 17.30 (in summer, at 18.30) but the church seems to be open most of the time. Take the main road around the north of the island, detour into the centre of Tijarafe (just above the main road) and you'll find the church easily.

Labels: churches, Flemish Art, tijarafe

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Corpus Christi in San Jose

San Jose main street at Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi in San Jose isn't nearly as spectacular as it is in Mazo, but it's still very nice. Since the whole thing takes out on a flat, tarmaced street, the tradition is to make carpets of coloured salt, with the altars being much more modest. This year, many of the carpets are made from seeds and petals, like in Mazo.

This carpet is by the Residents' Association from El Socorro.

Much as I love the petals, I think it's a mistake for San Jose to become a second-rate Mazo. I prefer salt (which I suspect wouldn't work on Mazo's steep cobbles, anyway). You can have brighter colours and finer detail.

And this one is by the village children

Labels: Breña Baja, Corpus Christi, fiesta, San Jose

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San Antonio del Monte

Yesterday was the biggest livestock fair on the island.

San Antonio del Monte used to be a village, but the villagers moved away. About the only thing that's left is the church of St. Anthony and the feast day, with it's massive fair. Apart from the animals, there's a craft fair, and of course lots of stalls selling cheap toys, food and drink.

It's a pretty enough little church, and for most of the day it's crowded with people visiting the saint and touching his belt.

After the mass, the statues are taken out to the fairground in a procession, and the priest blesses the animals.

Normally, it's baking hot at the fair, but as you can see, we were in the clouds yesterday. This wasn't good for photography, but it was a lot more comfortable.