Iglesia de San Ginés

Turning right after the old Cabildo Insular building and continuing on a narrow street, you will reach the Plaza de Las Palmas, a pleasant, shady square, where you will find the Iglesia de San Ginés, boasting an impressive square tower with a gleaming white cupola, dominating the square and the old town. Originally a 17th-century hermitage, it became parish church in 1798 and was dedicated to San Ginés, Arrecife’s patron saint. Built in an attractive combination of dark volcanic stone and whitewash, this triple-naved church features in the interior a dark wooden ceiling in Mudéjar-style as well as late-Baroque statues of San Ginés and the Virgen del Rosario, coming from Cuba, and some other interesting religious statues. Located behind the font, there is a symbolic modern painting – by Alberto Manrique – depicting the fountain of life.

During the Corpus Christi (Body of Christ) festivities and the exuberant, weeklong Fiesta de San Ginés around the 25th of August, the church and the square form the centre of all activities.

In the small side street Calle libre right next to the church, you will find the rather plain structure of Arrecife’s Mercado, the market for fruits, vegetables and spices, and an intriguing fish market on the opposite side.