Hermitage of Santa Catalina (Taganana)

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Architecture · Subcategory: Religious architecture · Year: 1621-1630 · Authors: Juan García

Located on the northern side of the plaza of the parish of Nuestra Señora de Las Nieves, the hermitage of Santa Catalina Mártir is another of the ancient treasures found in the picturesque village of Taganana. It was founded in 1621 by Gaspar Melián and its construction was entrusted to the master mason Juan García, a resident of Realejo Bajo. The first mass in this building was celebrated in May 1630. 

The temple, with a single nave, has a three-sided roof supported by a barbusano wood truss and covered with Arabic tiles. On its façades we find two doorways, both topped with semicircular arches. The main one, facing the parish, is provided with Tuscan order capitals resting on shafts and decorated at its keystone with a red stone shield bearing the pontifical emblem, since Pope Alexander VII granted plenary indulgence to the temple on 13 March 1664 for the celebration of the day and feast of its dedication. At the lower left vertex of the gable is the bell gable of the bell tower, formed by a semicircular arch of reddish toba ashlar, typical of the local quarries. On the east side of the building there is a recently created module that functions as a funeral parlour, and the slope of the land was used to also provide services on the ground floor.

The interior of the hermitage is sober and very simple. At the head is a niche with a semicircular arch made of masonry, where the titular image was kept, now in the parish church of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves.

The building fulfilled its mission over time. At the beginning of the 19th century it was first used as a warehouse and then as a morgue awaiting burial. Over time it deteriorated and was almost ruined, until in the 20th century it was again enabled for worship while the main church of Taganana was being rebuilt. Later it was used for purposes very different from those of its foundation.

In 1998, the Cabildo de Tenerife commissioned CF Cabrera-Febles Arquitectura, Paisaje y Urbanismo to rehabilitate the main body of the hermitage to convert it into a multipurpose room and for community activities. The original stone floor and the moulded step delimiting the presbytery from the altar area were wisely preserved.

The hermitage of Santa Catalina Mártir de Alejandría was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural de Canarias (BIC) (Asset of Cultural Interest of the Canary Islands) with the category of Monument on 29 April 2008.

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