Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzmán (San Cristóbal de La Laguna) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of Saint Dominic |
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Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzmán
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The church in 2005
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 Church of Saint Dominic
Location in Canary Islands
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| 28°29′09″N 16°18′48″W / 28.4858°N 16.3133°W | |
| Location | San Cristóbal de La Laguna |
| Country | Spain |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Completed | 1522 (Monastery) 1527 (Church) |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | San Cristóbal de La Laguna |
The Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzmán (which means Church of Saint Dominic of Guzmán) is a Catholic church located in the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Spain. It's a very old and important building with a rich history.
Contents
History
A Church with Deep Roots
Long ago, where the Church of Saint Dominic stands today, there was a small chapel. It was dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. In 1522, a group of Dominican friars (who are like monks) built their monastery here. Just five years later, in 1527, the church itself was finished.
Protecting a Special Statue
The Dominican monastery once protected a very special statue. This was the image of the Virgin of Candelaria, who is the patron saint of the Canary Islands. On January 30, 1555, the statue was brought to the monastery for the first time. This happened because people were worried about attacks from French raiders along the coast.
A Place of Learning and Art
In 1612, the convent became even more important when a special school for theology (the study of religious beliefs) was started there. It also had a public library, which was a big deal back then!
The church is also known for being the burial place of a famous corsair named Amaro Pargo. A corsair was like a privateer, someone who was allowed by their government to attack enemy ships. Amaro Pargo was buried here in 1747. He had been a big supporter of the church and even donated beautiful artworks, like a silver throne for a statue of Jesus. You can find his marble gravestone at the church's entrance. It shows his family crest and a symbol often linked to pirates: a skull and crossbones.
Famous Connections
The church also holds a special baptismal font. This font was originally in a different church, where Saint José de Anchieta was baptized. Saint José de Anchieta later became very famous for helping to found the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
Inside the church, at the main altar, you'll find the chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary. The beautiful statue of Our Lady of the Rosary might have been brought to Tenerife by a Dominican friar named Pedro de Santa María de Ulloa. However, some records suggest the statue was already on the island by 1558. The statue sits on an amazing silver throne from the 18th century.
The walls of the church are covered with stunning paintings called frescoes. These were created by an artist named Mariano de Cossío (1880–1960). They show religious scenes and even celebrate the victory at the Battle of Lepanto.
Since 1986, the Church of Saint Dominic and its old convent have been recognized as important cultural buildings in the Canary Islands.
Images for kids
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The tomb of Amaro Pargo in the Church of Santo Domingo, showing the skull and crossbones symbol.
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See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Santo Domingo de Guzmán (San Cristóbal de La Laguna) para niños
