Church of Santa Ana (Garachico)

Church of Santa Ana
Location within Tenerife
General information
Type	church
Location	Garachico, Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Coordinates	28°22′23″N 16°45′54″W
Opened	c. 1520

The Church of Santa Ana (Spanish: Iglesia de Santa Ana) is the main church in Garachico, Tenerife. It is located next to the Plaza de la Libertad.[1] Originally constructed around 1520, it was rebuilt after the volcanic eruption of 1706.

History

In 1520, Cristobal de Ponte, the founder of Garachico, ceded a plot to construct the church. The dedication of the church to Saint Anne was inspired by his wife, Ana de Vergara.[2][1] Construction of the chancel had started by 1532, and had been completed by 1542.[3]

The Eruption of Trevejo (1706) severely affected the church, after which it was rebuilt[2] between 1714 and 1721,[1] with new walls and roofs,[4] following the original plans.[5]

Image of Christ of Mercy

The church was restored in the 1990s.[1] Three of its sculptures were restored in 2010.[4] Work to restore the tower started in 2014, and included the repair of the wooden structure, the external stonework,[6] the coatings and finishes, as well as the replacement of the electrical cabling and pavement, costing €253,000. It re-opened in 2016, after which it hosted several exhibitions.[7]

It was registered as a monument of cultural interest by the Cabildo de Tenerife in 2010, and is part of a group listing (conjunto historico) of properties of cultural interest in Garachico.[7]

Design and contents

The facade combines elements from Plateresque and Renaissance architecture. The interior is divided into three parts, with a series of arches and columns. (In Spanish one says there are three naves; in English a nave and two side-aisles). There are a number of different altars,[1] some of which are Baroque,[5] as well as sculptures and paintings.[1]

The church houses an image of Christ of Mercy from Mexico,[2] made using the marrow of corn,[5] and a baptismal font made of marble in the 17th century.[2]

It also houses a museum of sacred art.[3]

References

1. Tenerife, Patea (4 November 2015). "Iglesia Matriz de Santa Ana en Garachico". Patea Tenerife (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 July 2019.
2. "IGLESIA MATRIZ DE SANTA ANA - Lugares de Interés - Tenerife". www.webtenerife.com. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
3. "Arquitectura Religiosa". turismo.garachico.es. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
4. "Tres esculturas de la iglesia de Santa Ana de Garachico (Tenerife) serán restauradas". 20minutos.es - Últimas Noticias (in Spanish). 10 August 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
5. "Iglesia de Santa Ana: Información útil y fotos". EscapadaRural.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 July 2019.
6. "Comienza la restauración de la torre de la Iglesia de Santa Ana, en Garachico (Tenerife)". Europa Press. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
7. Algarra, Nuria Martinez (21 November 2016). "La torre de la iglesia de Santa Ana de Garachico albergará varias exposiciones". Diario de Tenerife (in European Spanish). Retrieved 3 July 2019.