Cueva de Chinguaro
| Cave-Shrine of Chinguaro | |
|---|---|
Cueva de Chinguaro
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Güímar, Spain. |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| District | Diocese of San Cristóbal de La Laguna |
| Province | Archdiocese of Seville |
| Country | Spain |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Shrine |
| Architectural type | church |
Cave-Shrine of Chinguaro is a Roman Catholic church and cave located in Güímar on Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). It was the traditional cave-palace of the Guanche King of Menceyato de Güímar, Acaimo.
In this cave, the ancient Guanches worshiped the Virgin of Candelaria (Patron Saint of the Canary Islands) as the goddess Chaxiraxi (worshiped in the Canary Islands until the conquest of the Canary Islands). The icon was later identified with the Virgin Mary and was moved by the Guanches themselves to the Cueva de Achbinico in Candelaria. This cave was the first shrine devoted to the Virgin of Candelaria, and the first Aboriginal shrine to contain a Christian idol in the Canary Islands. However, the Guanches at the time still generally adhered to their animistic religion.
The cave is also a place of great archaeological importance.
Coordinates: 28°19′25″N 16°23′45″W / 28.32361°N 16.39583°W
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