Cathedral of La Laguna
Encyclopedia
The Cathedral of San Cristóbal de La Laguna or Catedral de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios (Santa Iglesia Catedral de San Cristóbal de La Laguna in Spanish) is a Catholic
cathedral
in Tenerife
, Spain. Begun in 1904 and completed in 1915, it is dedicated to the Virgin of Los Remedios
. This is one of the most important temples of the Canary Islands
.
Located in the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna
(Tenerife
, Canary Islands
, Spain). In this temple lie the remains of Alonso Fernandez de Lugo
, conqueror of the island and founder of the city. The cathedral is located in the historic center of the city of La Laguna, declared World Heritage Site
in 1999 by UNESCO
.
Styles of the cathedral: Neoclassical
, Neo-Gothic and Renaissance
. Every year the statue of Cristo de La Laguna
is carried in a solemn procession to the cathedral where he stayed a few days before returning to its sanctuary also located in this city.
's Italian
marble carved by Pasquale Bocciardo which departs from the set of Mazuelos's Altarpiece. In addition there are valuable works by Cristóbal Hernández de Quintana, Luján Perez and Fernando Estévez
. The cathedral has three wide aisles and an ambulatory
(unique in the Canary Islands) which surrounds the chancel, or altar. These elements give the interior of the cathedral a typical medieval European
feel in contrast with the colonial style of the exterior.
The cathedral was constructed from concrete, one of the first buildings in Spain
to use a material which is now used extensively in a wide range of buildings. Unfortunately, having been a pioneer in this field, the technology was not fully developed; as a result it developed numerous faults which required large amounts of repair and improvement work.
In the era during which the building was constructed and dedicated as cathedral, the capital of the island was the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna; the diocesan headquarters still remain in that city. This is the reason that the cathedral was built there and not in the current capital of the island (Santa Cruz de Tenerife
). The image of the Holiest Cristo de La Laguna
moves up to the cathedral every year, where it remains for a few days on the occasions of the holy days in September and Holy Week.
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
in Tenerife
Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...
, Spain. Begun in 1904 and completed in 1915, it is dedicated to the Virgin of Los Remedios
Virgin of Los Remedios
The Virgin of Los Remedios or Our Lady of Los Remedios is a small statue of the Virgin Mary, believed to have been brought to Mexico by the conquistadores. She is a small image of the Virgin Mary, measuring 27 cm in height. This image is strongly linked with the Spanish Conquest, especially the...
. This is one of the most important temples of the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
.
Located in the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna
San Cristóbal de la Laguna
San Cristóbal de La Laguna is a city and municipality in the northern part of the island of Tenerife in the Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on the Canary Islands . The city is third-most populous city of the archipelago and second-most populous city of the island. It is a suburban area of the...
(Tenerife
Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...
, Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
, Spain). In this temple lie the remains of Alonso Fernandez de Lugo
Alonso Fernández de Lugo
Javier Alonso Luis Fernández de Lugo was a Spanish military man, conquistador, city founder, and administrator. He conquered the islands of La Palma and Tenerife for the Castilian Crown; they were the last of the Canary Islands to be conquered by Europeans. He was also the founder of the towns...
, conqueror of the island and founder of the city. The cathedral is located in the historic center of the city of La Laguna, declared World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
in 1999 by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
.
Styles of the cathedral: Neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
, Neo-Gothic and Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
. Every year the statue of Cristo de La Laguna
Cristo de La Laguna
The Cristo de La Laguna is a Catholic figure of great historical, artistic and cultural image that represents the crucified Jesus of Nazareth...
is carried in a solemn procession to the cathedral where he stayed a few days before returning to its sanctuary also located in this city.
History
In 1511 on the site of the current building (Plaza of Albino Monk) a hermitage was built, which was replaced in 1515 with a major construction dedicated to the Virgin of the Remedies of Mudejar style, with a tower added in 1618. The temple became a cathedral in 1819, when the new diocese of La Laguna was created. The front, neoclassic, dates back to 1825; the current structure was constructed between 1904 and 1916 and is of Neo-Gothic style. Inside there is a notable pulpit of CarraraCarrara
Carrara is a city and comune in the province of Massa-Carrara , notable for the white or blue-grey marble quarried there. It is on the Carrione River, some west-northwest of Florence....
's Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
marble carved by Pasquale Bocciardo which departs from the set of Mazuelos's Altarpiece. In addition there are valuable works by Cristóbal Hernández de Quintana, Luján Perez and Fernando Estévez
Fernando Estévez
Fernando Estévez was a Spanish sculptor of the 18th century from La Orotava, Tenerife. He is considered one of the Canary Islands most noted sculptors....
. The cathedral has three wide aisles and an ambulatory
Ambulatory
The ambulatory is the covered passage around a cloister. The term is sometimes applied to the procession way around the east end of a cathedral or large church and behind the high altar....
(unique in the Canary Islands) which surrounds the chancel, or altar. These elements give the interior of the cathedral a typical medieval European
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
feel in contrast with the colonial style of the exterior.
The cathedral was constructed from concrete, one of the first buildings in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to use a material which is now used extensively in a wide range of buildings. Unfortunately, having been a pioneer in this field, the technology was not fully developed; as a result it developed numerous faults which required large amounts of repair and improvement work.
In the era during which the building was constructed and dedicated as cathedral, the capital of the island was the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna; the diocesan headquarters still remain in that city. This is the reason that the cathedral was built there and not in the current capital of the island (Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital , second-most populous city of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands and the 21st largest city in Spain, with a population of 222,417 in 2009...
). The image of the Holiest Cristo de La Laguna
Cristo de La Laguna
The Cristo de La Laguna is a Catholic figure of great historical, artistic and cultural image that represents the crucified Jesus of Nazareth...
moves up to the cathedral every year, where it remains for a few days on the occasions of the holy days in September and Holy Week.
English homepages
See also
- Roman Catholic Diocese of San Cristóbal de La LagunaRoman Catholic Diocese of San Cristóbal de La LagunaThe Roman Catholic Diocese of San Cristóbal de La Laguna also called; Diocese of Tenerife or Diocese Nivariense is a diocese located in the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna in the Canary Islands in the Ecclesiastical province of Sevilla in Spain. The diocese includes the islands of Tenerife, La...
- Real Santuario del Santísimo Cristo de La LagunaReal Santuario del Cristo de La LagunaReal Santuario del Santísimo Cristo de La Laguna is a Catholic church located in the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife...
- Basilica of CandelariaBasilica of CandelariaThe Basilica of the Royal Marian Shrine of the Our Lady of Candelaria is a Roman catholic minor basilica, the first Marian shrine of the Canary Islands, located in the municipality and city of Candelaria on the island of Tenerife . It is located c...
- San Cristóbal de La LagunaSan Cristóbal de la LagunaSan Cristóbal de La Laguna is a city and municipality in the northern part of the island of Tenerife in the Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on the Canary Islands . The city is third-most populous city of the archipelago and second-most populous city of the island. It is a suburban area of the...