SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 6th March (EUROPA PRESS) –
A meeting was held by the General Directorate of Culture and Cultural Heritage with the government team of the Güímar City Council to coordinate actions that enhance the cultural heritage of the municipality. A key project to be undertaken is the connection between the Llano de la Virgen and the Chinguaro Complex through the interpretation and restoration of these historical sites, which witnessed the significant event of the introduction of the Christian faith in Tenerife.
During the meeting, Miguel Ángel Clavijo, the General Director of Culture and Cultural Heritage, Gustavo Pérez, the Mayor of Güímar, Javier Eloy Campos, the Councilor for Historical-Cultural Heritage, and María Luisa Campos, the Councilor for Canarian Identity, along with technical experts from both institutions, visited these sites which are designated as Cultural Interest Assets (BIC), to evaluate their onsite requirements and potential.
Clavijo emphasised that Güímar “is one of the most significant municipalities in the archipelago due to its unique history” and highlighted that the interaction between the Guanche civilization and the European world, in essence, the contact zone, has given rise to heritage spaces that are deserving of recognition and should be safeguarded and promoted for their historical value.”
Pérez, during the meeting, conveyed his interest to the General Director in collaborating to showcase the rich heritage that Güímar possesses. The proposed itinerary during the visit provided insight into the importance of Chimisay and Chinguaro as pivotal locations in the archipelago’s history.
Out of the thirteen BICs in the municipality of Güímar, the two sites recognized as Historical Places, Llano de la Virgen and the Chinguaro Complex, share a close connection. However, until now, there hasn’t been a project that integrates these sites at a heritage level, highlighting the initial encounter between the indigenous and European cultures.
It is widely known that the original statue of the Virgin of Candelaria appeared near Chimisay beach years prior to the island of Tenerife’s conquest. It was then carried by two indigenous shepherds from the area known as Llano de la Virgen to Chinguaro, which was the residence of the Mencey de Güímar at that time. It was in the same cave that the Guanche community worshipped the Virgin of Candelaria for the first time.
This initiative marks the inception of developing new heritage strategies between the Cultural Heritage department of the Government and the Güímar City Council. Through such meetings, Miguel Ángel Clavijo aims to engage with the relevant island and municipal entities responsible for the cultural heritage of the archipelago, with the overarching goal of forming collaborative strategies.
