There is a special air in Candelaria. This town is one of those that shows its religious impulse in a more sincere way in the whole Archipelago. In its solemn basilica, surrounded by imposing bronze Guanche statues, it houses the image of the Virgen de la Candelaria, La morenita, patron saint of the Canary Islands. It is a meeting point for thousands of pilgrims every August 15, who at dawn of that day (or even earlier) undertake long walks from all corners of the island to honor it. Located in the southeast of Tenerife, the municipality of Candelaria has an area of 49.18 km2 and approximately 26,134 inhabitants. It is one of the religious centers of the island since the discovery of the image of the Patroness of the Canary Islands, the Virgin of Candelaria, by the ancient aborigines in 1392. Each year thousands of pilgrims come, led by their devotion to the Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria that bears his name, although the old image was lost during a storm in the nineteenth century. The union of the Guanche culture and the Castilian culture established after the conquest of Tenerife is evident in the monuments that populate Candelaria, especially in the bronze statues of the Guanche menceys that can be found in the Plaza de la Patrona de Canarias. The caves and natural beaches mark the surroundings of Candelaria, with corners of marked fishing character and a wide avenue that runs along the seashore. In its restaurants it is possible to try a recipe made with fresh fish or a typical dessert and regain strength to continue walking through the streets of the town, discovering its most emblematic corners. It is worth noting the wide network of trails that run through the rural areas of Candelaria.
