The home of the Virgin of Candelaria in the Achbinico cave

For centuries, Cueva de Achbinico has been a sacred place in the Canary Islands. This Roman Catholic church and cave is the home of the Virgin of Candelaria, the patron saint of the Canary islands. The statue was found on Güimar's beach of Chimisay at the end of the 14th century and was translated to the Achbinico cave in 1446 by King Acaymo of Güimar. It remains the most important pilgrimage site in the Canaries.

The cave is 14 meters long, 6 meters wide, and 5 meters high, with a ceiling shaped as a dome. A small chapel was built just outside, covering the entrance to the cave. Inside the cave, a bronze replica of the Virgin of Candelaria rests, as it has for centuries. The cave has held significant importance since prehistoric times, as evidenced by the layers of ashes found there and carbon-dated to over 3000 years old.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons