Church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción

You're now standing in front of the Church of Our Lady of the Conception, take a good look, because this is considered the most beautiful baroque church in the entire archipelago. Its dome is unique on the island, inspired by the famous one in Florence. Locals often refer to it as the basilica or cathedral of La Orotava, but technically, it’s neither. Its story begins back in the 15th century, at the end of the conquest of Tenerife, the last of the Canary Islands to fall to the Spanish conquistadors. The Guanches of the Kingdom of Taoro put up fierce resistance to defend their valley, but history took its usual course, and the colonists eventually prevailed. They built a small hermitage dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of the Canary Islands. In the 16th century, the surrounding land was divided among settlers, and the population grew around the hermitage. It soon had its own vicar, and in 1516, it was enlarged enough to be designated as a church. Over the years it kept growing, but centuries of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions took their toll, and in 1768, the original building was completely demolished and rebuilt. What you see today is that rebuilt version, in all its late baroque glory. If you can, step inside, the interior was redesigned in the 19th century with the elegant touch of European neoclassicism. You can also visit the sacred art museum, which opened in 2007. The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción is officially recognized as a Spanish Cultural Heritage Site.