As it happened last year, Candelaria will live this weekend without the bustle of thousands of pilgrims who come to the Basilica to visit the Patroness of the Canary Islands, with the aim of fulfilling a promise and by the faith that thousands of people from Tenerife and Canaries process. There will be no kiosks of sweets and hams, no crazy cochitos, no ceremony of the Guanches, no real offering – yes virtual – or processions as emotional as Las Candelas. Everything will be reduced to masses in the Basilica, and with a decrease in capacity, and, in addition, it is recommended not to make a pilgrimage along the traditional paths of the Virgin. So much that since the City Council itself has launched the message to follow these unique parties of La Morenita through television.
Thus, the Candelaria City Council reported yesterday that the Basilica de la Patrona de Canarias will remain closed on the night of August 14, as well as the TF-28 road will be open to traffic, so pedestrians will not be allowed. These measures are in addition to those announced by the Cabildo, which days ago issued the recommendation not to make a pilgrimage to the Mariana town.
The island corporation will temporarily prohibit, from 6:00 p.m. the day after tomorrow until 6:00 a.m. on the 16th, the transit through various trails and tracks. With regard to ascents from the north slope, passage will be prohibited on the ascent path from La Orotava (from the Monte del Pino trail, next to the Caldera de la Orotava); the path of the Jacobins, in Santa Úrsula (from the El Rayo track); the PR TF 25.2 trail (from the Hoya del Abade recreational area) in La Victoria; the path PR TF 25.3 (from the Mirador de la Vica) in La Matanza; and the PR TF 25 trail (from the Las Calderetas recreational area, in El Sauzal, to the TF-24 road, on the Las Lagunetas plain). With regard to descents on the southern slope, the prohibition will extend to the Caldera de Pedro Gil road and track (Güímar-Arafo), the La Helechera track, Los Dornajos, El Fayal and the service road of the high voltage laying of Red Eléctrica (all in Candelaria).
The Local Police of Candelaria has extended the controls on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Last weekend 22 traffic complaints were processed, 7 of them for talking on the mobile phone, 5 for lacking ITV and 2 various complaints. On the other hand, it is worth noting the high percentage of positives in the controls for drug use (3 of the 6 carried out) and alcohol (5 of 8).
