Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria

The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria stands on the main square of La Oliva, a village in the north of Fuerteventura, and it is one of the most important historic buildings on the island. La Oliva was for a long time the administrative centre of Fuerteventura, because the island's military governors, the colonels, lived here, and this explains why such a large and handsome church was built in a small rural settlement. The church was constructed in the early eighteenth century, and it has a robust, fortress-like look, with thick whitewashed walls and a tall bell tower made of dark volcanic stone that contrasts strongly with the white of the walls.

The design belongs to the Canarian Baroque tradition. It has a simple plan, with a main nave and side chapels, and a restrained exterior that suits the dry, windswept landscape. The tower is one of its most distinctive features, with a dark stone base and a lighter top, and it can be seen from some distance across the plain. Inside, the church holds altarpieces and sculptures from the eighteenth century, some of them carved in wood and gilded, others in a more modest local style. The church is dedicated to the Virgin of Candelaria, the patron saint of the Canary Islands, whose cult began in Tenerife and spread throughout the archipelago. Her feast, in early February, is celebrated across the islands.

The square in front of the church is a pleasant space, with a few trees and benches, and the village has an unhurried, quiet character. Close by is the Casa de los Coroneles, the large eighteenth-century mansion that was the home of the colonels who governed the island, and which is one of the most notable pieces of civil architecture in Fuerteventura. Together they give a picture of the island's history in the days of the colonels, a time when landowners and the military held power. The area is also known for its Canarian craft shops and small galleries.

La Oliva sits inland, in the north of the island, about twenty minutes from Corralejo, so it is easy to visit as part of a day trip that includes the Parque Natural de Corralejo and the Mirador del Río on the neighbouring island by ferry. It suits people who like quiet villages and historic buildings, and a visit is short. The church is a working parish church, so it may be closed outside service times, and visitors should dress modestly. Check opening hours locally.