The Hermitage of San Diego in San Cristóbal de La Laguna

In 1615, Juan de Ayala founded the monastery or convent of San Diego del Monte, located extramuros de la ciudad de San Cristóbal de La Laguna. Since its inception, the site has been associated with the Franciscan order. In 1648, the first vicar, Father Gonzalo Temudo, formed a monastic community with twelve religious men, though the definitive construction of the building did not take place until 1672.

The temple served as the headquarters of the Province of San Diego de Canarias, the Franciscan province that administered the order's convents throughout the archipelago. It was a place of significance for the religious community, suffering through many problems in the form of lawsuits, litigation, and closures throughout its history.

The religious Fray Juan de Jesús, more popularly known as the Siervo de Dios, lived and is buried in this convent. He served as the religious advisor to Sor María de Jesús (La Siervita), the monja incorrupta of the convent of Santa Catalina. Today, the site remains famous for the popular Fuga de San Diego, a tradition dating back to 1919 when students from the IES Canarias Cabrera Pinto refused to attend classes so they could attend the pilgrimage.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons