Guía de Isora’s Pascua Florida Blends Botanical Art and Tradition for 17th Edition
Guía de Isora’s Pascua Florida festival returns from April 2 to 5, showcasing eleven botanical art installations and a diverse cultural program that blends traditional Holy Week themes with contemporary creativity.
The Pascua Florida in Guía de Isora has grown far beyond its religious roots to become a leading example of cultural management in the Canary Islands. From April 2 to 5, the historic center of this Tenerife town will once again be transformed by an event that blends traditional Holy Week themes with modern, temporary art. Its success as a driver for tourism and the local economy has even earned it recognition as a key ecotourism project under the European Interreg MAC program.
This year, director Carlos Curbelo has curated a processional route featuring eleven botanical installations. The project brings together a prestigious group of artists, including internationally acclaimed creators, the La Orotava Carpet Makers Association, and winners of the Canary Islands Fine Arts Award. Together, they will reinterpret the story of the Passion using only plant-based materials—a technique that has been refined over the event’s 17-year history.
The festival offers more than just visual art; a full program of music, dance, and theater runs from April 1 to 5. Highlights include performances by the Isorana Musical Group, the Cuarteto en Femenino, and the Miguel Castillo Polyphonic Choir of Güímar, alongside stage productions by Toni Aguilera, Greg Rodríguez, and Burka Teatro. Additionally, the local Cultural Center will host an exhibition by Fernando Álamo.
The festival’s success is well-documented. In a February 2023 public survey for the European ECO-TUR2 project, residents voted the Pascua Florida as the town's most significant asset, ahead of other local landmarks like the Water Route or the Alcalá Fireworks. With 487 votes, the public highlighted the event’s ability to balance environmental sustainability with economic growth. This support confirms the festival as a model for how local heritage, when combined with contemporary art, can create a lasting, positive impact on the community.