The celebration in honor of the Virgin of Candelaria, the Patron Saint of the Canary Islands, has transformed the municipality of Candelaria into the epicenter of the religious and cultural sentiment of the islands, attracting thousands of faithful from all over Tenerife.
The prior of the basilica, Dailo José Mello, emphasized the spiritual significance of the pilgrimage, inviting believers to undertake an "inner journey" of faith and hope, where the Virgin awaits to listen and allow them to ask and thank.
“"The entire island is already starting to make its way here, peregrinating, but we must above all undertake an inner journey."
The mayor of Candelaria, María Concepción Brito, reported the closure of several mountain trails due to high wildfire risk and current weather advisories, recommending the Camino Viejo or the TF-28 road for pilgrims. Road traffic on the TF-28 will be interrupted from 6:00 PM today to give absolute priority to walkers.
Due to these restrictions, many pilgrims have arrived in town since the beginning of the week. The basilica will remain open throughout the night to facilitate the devotion of the pilgrims.
The celebration includes a historical reenactment by local cultural groups, highlighting the devotion shown. The main eucharist will be officiated by the bishop and priests this Saturday at 12:00 PM, followed by a procession which, due to renovation work in the main square, will take place along La Arena street and return via De los Príncipes street, with events moved to the parking lot in front of the town hall.
The company Titsa has reinforced transport with approximately 20,000 additional seats. The mayor strongly recommended using public transport and mentioned park-and-ride facilities in Punta Larga linked by shared taxis and on-demand transport.
María Concepción Brito expressed gratitude to the residents for their understanding regarding the daily routine disruptions caused by the event and advised all pilgrims to constantly check official channels for potential weather variations, concluding that the municipality awaits them "always with open arms" for such transcendental days for the Canarian people.
