In Tenerife, a baroque altar has been restored in the church where the legendary corsair Amaro Pargo is buried.
In Tenerife, the baroque altar of the Virgin Mary of Solitude in the Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán has been restored, returning it to its original ochre color and restoring its historical value.
In the town of San Cristóbal de la Laguna, Tenerife, stands the Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán. It is one of the most famous churches in the Canary Islands. It is centuries old, and it is not only beautiful and important to believers, but it also holds a secret. Amaro Pargo, a legendary corsair about whom various rumors circulate, is buried here.
Amaro Rodríguez Felipe, known as Amaro Pargo, was born in La Laguna in 1678. He was a sailor and traded with America. It was said that he hid treasures, engaged in piracy, but at the same time helped the poor.
Amaro Pargo greatly helped the Church of Santo Domingo. He donated paintings, altars, and jewelry to it. Therefore, he was buried directly in the church. His grave still attracts many people.
When you enter the church, you can immediately see a marble slab near the main altar. This is the tomb of Amaro Pargo. It depicts his coat of arms and a skull with bones, a symbol of corsairs.
It is this image that adds mystery to the figure of Amaro Pargo. It is said that he had secret maps, hidden chests, and a special connection with Sister Maria de Jesus, who was called the Servant of God from La Laguna.
For many years, people have been coming to the grave of Amaro Pargo to honor his memory and learn more about his life. Today, it is one of the most popular places in the church. Many are interested in the life of the corsair, who is considered the "good pirate" of the Canary Islands. He was a man of faith and wealth, who combined adventure with helping others.
The Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán was built in 1527 next to the Dominican monastery. It is a wonderful example of the architecture of the Canary Islands of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. It has a beautiful courtyard made of red stone and a collection of frescoes by Mariano de Cossío.
Among the treasures of the church are:
Recently, the restoration of the altar of the Virgin Mary of Solitude, which is located in the Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, was completed in Tenerife. This altar is a wonderful example of the Baroque style. After the restoration, it looks the same as before.
Isabel de Esteban, who is responsible for the historical heritage on the island, noted that the restoration helped to restore the beauty of the altar and its historical value. She also emphasized that the island takes care to preserve important works of art that are part of the cultural heritage.
The restoration was led by Marcos Hernández Moreno. The project involved a team of specialists in art history, restoration and heritage preservation, as well as teachers and experts from the University of La Laguna.
The restoration cost 56,924 euros. Most of the money, 43,624 euros, was allocated by the authorities of Tenerife. The parish of Santo Domingo de Guzmán added 13,300 euros.
During the restoration, it was possible to restore the original ocher color of the altar, removing later layers. This helped to restore the altar to its integrity and harmonious appearance.
According to representatives of the authorities, studies have shown that the Baroque altar was originally covered with a white layer, on which an ocher color was applied. This was done to save money, instead of using gold.
During the restoration, the front of the altar was also restored, where marble elements and images of the Sacred Heart were found. On the advice of experts from the university, it was decided to preserve these elements in order not to lose evidence of the original appearance of the altar.