The Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción in La Orotava

The parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción is considered one of the most magnificent temples on the island of Tenerife. Located in the Villa of La Orotava, it is popularly known as the "Basilica or Cathedral of La Orotava" because of its composition and dimensions, even though it is neither. Its most characteristic element is its dome, whose design is inspired by the dome of the Cathedral of Florence.

Originally, a shrine was built in the northeast of the Valle de La Orotava. In 1503, the shrine was established as a curacy by Bishop don Diego de Muros, with D. Pedro de Parce as the priest. In 1514, the temple was declared a filial parish and expansion work began, converting it into a church in 1516. After earthquakes in 1704 and 1705 caused serious damage, a new temple was planned. In 1755, military engineer Francisco Gozar was commissioned to project a larger church.

Construction of the new temple took place between 1768 and 1778, except for the roofs. The temple was inaugurated with great solemnity on December 7, 1788, by the Bishop of Canarias, don Antonio Martínez de la Plaza. It was declared a Monumento Histórico-Artístico Nacional on June 18, 1948, and is recognized as a Bien de Interés Cultural with the category of monument.

The church continues to be a significant site, having been visited by various royalty, including King Alfonso XIII in 1906 and the Infanta doña Isabel de Borbón in 1910. Following a restoration that began in 1998, the church was reopened with solemnity on June 8, 1999, by Bishop don Felipe Fernández García.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons