The Cabildo de Tenerife, through the Ministry of Historical Heritage led by Isabel de Esteban, reiterates its dedication to recovering the artefacts of the island’s history by restoring seven movable items, specifically ecclesiastical in nature. This project involves the refurbishment of six altarpieces and one statue across four municipalities, totalling an investment of 200,000 euros. Two of these artworks are from the parish of La Concepción, another from San Francisco de Asís, and a fourth from Taganana within Santa Cruz. The remaining works originate from the ports of La Cruz, Arona, and Guía de Isora.
Island Programme
De Esteban notes that this initiative is part of the Historical Heritage programme for 2023-2027, which outlines actions to be undertaken annually concerning property rehabilitation and culturally significant furnishings. This programme, which commenced in 2023, includes financial support directed at individuals, homeowner associations, municipalities, and the diocese, thus advocating for the preservation of both rural and urban heritage.
Catalogues
“In addition to facilitating the development of municipal catalogues and special plans to protect historical areas, the island director highlights “the significant commitment to supporting this sector with a budget allocation of 15 million euros for this year,” enabling the execution of numerous projects ranging from architectural rehabilitation to restoration and intervention in public spaces.
Santa Cruz
The Altarpiece of San Pedro and Los Santos Varone, situated in the Concepción church of Santa Cruz, is the most recently restored artefact, completed just days ago. This piece dates back to the latter half of the 18th century, with the restoration carried out by conservator-restorer Carlos Gustavo García Ramos at a total expense of 51,948 euros. Other restoration efforts in Santa Cruz include the altarpieces of the Lord of the Cañita (Phase I), also in Concepción (Baroque, pre-1737, anonymous, crafted in carved wood, polychrome, and gilt); the Lord of the Tribulations in San Francisco de Asís (Baroque of the mid-eighteenth century, anonymous); and the Blessed Sacrament (Phase II, in the parish of Our Lady of the Snow at Taganana, featuring the Hornacin Altarpiece, made of carved wood and polychrome, anonymous, in the Canarian Baroque style of the 18th century).
Island Overview
The Main Altarpiece of San Francisco de Asís (Puerto de la Cruz) is an anonymous piece from the 18th century, fashioned from carved, polychrome, and gilt wood. The Image of San Lorenzo in the parish of San Lorenzo Mártir (Valle San Lorenzo, Arona) is an 18th-century work, while the Altarpiece of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (in the Parish of Our Lady of Light in Guía de Isora) is a neogothic piece, also anonymous and from the early twentieth century.
Restoration Projects
In addition to the movable properties, a grant is being provided to the diocese for the refurbishment of the Chapel of Dolores (Icod de los Vinos) and Casa Van Damme (La Laguna), amounting to a total of 879,019 euros.
