Candelaria is a small town 20 km from the south of the capital of Tenerife, which is considered a religious centre of the island. The main property of the city is the Candelaria Basilica (basilica de la Candelaria), namely the sacred statue of the Virgin of Candelaria (she is also called the Black Virgin Mary), the shrine of the local population of the Guanches. According to legend, the Black Madonna, carved from dark wood, was found by the local inhabitants of the Guanches, who were pagans and for a long time worshipped the found statue, calling her the Mother of the Sun - the progenitor of all the gods. During the island's conquest, the Spanish missionaries found the figure, recognized the Mother of God, and built a church for her on the island. In the following centuries, the church burned several times. Subsequently, a basilica in the Moorish style was built in the same place, crowned with a 25-meter bell tower, where the Black Madonna is still kept.

The city of Candelaria itself lives a quiet, measured life, attracting tourists with its local culture, architectural sights and amazing nature. There are several hiking routes around the city along the mountain trails, which offer stunning views of the valley.

Candelaria is considered the religious capital of the Canary Islands, which is visited annually by more than 2,5 million tourists every year, while the native population is just under thirty thousand people. This town is rich in culture and history and is located in the majestically beautiful valley of Guimar with the most picturesque landscapes and black volcanic sand beaches.