Candelaria has already activated the countdown for the festivities in honor of the Patron Saint of the Canary Islands, in mid-August, a celebration that will bring together in Villa Mariana between 100,000 and 150,000 people from all over the Island, according to calculations by the City Council, which expects a greater influx this year than last, although with more staggered waves of pilgrims as it coincides with a long weekend.
Between 400 and 600 troops will participate in the operation to guarantee security when traveling and arriving in the urban area, as agreed at the coordination meeting held yesterday in the plenary hall of the Candelaria City Council, a meeting chaired by the mayoress Mari Brito and in which the island councilor for the Natural Environment, Sustainability and Security, Blanca Pérez, participated, among other island and municipal public officials.
The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Government of the Canary Islands, the Civil Guard, the Canary Islands Police, the Canary Islands Health Service, the Citizen Security and Emergency Service, the Tenerife Fire Department, Titsa, Anaga Emergency Assistance and the Candelaria and Arafo Civil Protection.
Mari Brito appealed to pilgrims “to come with the usual responsibility and caution” and confirmed that new meetings will be held in the coming weeks to “fine-tune” the device.
The mayoress pointed out that, as a result of COVID, some changes have been perceived both in habits and in the number of visitors. “During the pandemic we asked that visits to the Virgin not be concentrated exclusively in August, but throughout the year and that message has penetrated, but we expect a large influx of pilgrims, which we will receive, as always, with great enthusiasm.”
For her part, Blanca Pérez stressed the reinforcement of the media that depend on the Cabildo, among which she cited firefighters, forestry brigades, highway personnel and the Titsa bus service. “The Cabildo will put all possible means to guarantee safety and mobility, and this year we have the Valle de Güímar fire station, located in the Industrial Estate, to intervene at the appropriate time in the event of any incident,” he said at the end of the meeting.
On the main days, the security operation will begin on Monday, August 14, at 3:00 p.m. and will last until 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, although from August 13, the forces of the Local Police and Civil Protection of Candelaria will be reinforced to coincide with the start of the weekend.
From the Town Hall it is recommended to go to Candelaria by public transport. However, the recommended parking areas for days 14 and 15 are the esplanade of the cemetery, near the Civil Guard post and the vicinity of the Post Office, CEIP Punta Larga and at the end of Rambla de los Menceyes, on the new esplanade.
On the other hand, circulation from the Industrial Estate along José Miguel Galván Bello street in the direction of Candelaria will be prohibited. In addition, circulation to La Magdalena street from José Miguel Galván Bello street (above the Civil Guard barracks) will not be allowed, while Frailes Dominicos street will remain closed in a downward direction from the cemetery bridge.
As usual, the old highway (TF-28), between El Chorrillo and Las Caletillas, will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6:00 p.m. on August 14 until the passage of the Athletic March, which is estimated at 9:30 a.m. the following day, with the aim of guaranteeing the safety of pilgrims and participants in the offering. In addition, access to Las Caletillas from the highway in both directions will remain closed.
