Church of Santa María de las Nieves de Taganana

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Architecture · Subcategory: Religious architecture · Year: 1507

By 1507 Taganana was already known as the valley of Santa María de las Nieves, indicating that there was a temple dedicated to that invocation, possibly a small building. The current church is the result of successive reforms and expansions, especially during the second half of the 17th century, when it was enlarged with the Epistle and Gospel naves, although the baptistery and the main chapel date from the first third of the following century.

Today it presents a sober image of traditional Canarian typology, with its semicircular arch doorway and its attached bell tower, both made of red tuff from the area. Inside, the optical effect of spaciousness and the magnificent wooden coffered ceiling are striking.

The image of the Virgin, possibly from the 16th century, life-size and kept in the temple, has an unknown origin, although the Child she holds in her arms seems to be of a more recent period. Next to this Marian image is a true art jewel, also from the 16th century: the Flemish triptych attributed to Marcellus Coffermans, whose central panel represents the Adoration of the Magi , with The Nativity and The Circumcision on the side panels. This is a clear example of Taganana's connection with the Flemish world during the 16th century, linked to commercial interests related to the sugar markets of that time.

The church also has an excellent Crucifix of French school, known as Christ of Flachat , for having been rescued, along with an image of the Immaculate Conception, from the remains of the ship of the same name that sank very close to the Anaga lighthouse in February 1898. It is also said that some decorative objects of the temple arrived by sea in other shipwrecks that occurred over time. In addition, the parish possesses various pieces of American goldsmithery, some from confiscations and others from donations by emigrants.

Opposite the church, on the other side of the small square, is the hermitage of Santa Catalina, ordered to be built in 1621. It is a modest construction featuring the coat of arms of San Pedro above its doorway and a simple bell gable. Today this building is used for neighbourhood activities and as a cultural centre.

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