Iglesia de San Francisco is a Baroque church in Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s historic centre, at Calle de San Francisco, 13. The building was completed in 1680 as part of a Franciscan convent and became a parish in 1869. Inside, look for the three-nave layout, carved altarpieces, statues and the small image of Señor de las Tribulaciones. The church’s connection to the 1893 cholera procession gives that image a particular place in the city’s religious history. Pair your visit with nearby Plaza del Príncipe.
A Franciscan convent becomes a parish
The church began as a Franciscan convent, and its present building was completed in 1680. It became a parish in 1869. Its long religious history is visible in an interior that has remained a place of worship as well as a repository of art.
The church is in Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s historic centre, on Calle de San Francisco. Plaza del Príncipe is nearby, making it straightforward to include the church in a walk around the central area.
Three naves and Baroque details
Inside, the church is arranged in three naves beneath vaulted arches. Look up at the Mudejar wooden ceilings, then take time with the altarpieces, whose ornate decoration includes twisting Solomonic columns. Restored 18th-century retablos and grisaille frescoes around the choir add further detail to the interior.
A historic pipe organ, built between 1778 and 1781, is another feature to look for. The church also contains statues and a crib. Together, these works give the interior a sense of the devotional life that has continued here over centuries.
The image of Señor de las Tribulaciones
The church is especially associated with a small 17th-century image known as Señor de las Tribulaciones, representing Jesus Christ. In 1893, during a cholera epidemic, the image was carried through the city in procession. The epidemic later stopped, and the image came to be honoured as Señor de Santa Cruz and invoked as a protector of the city.
Its story connects the church’s art with a specific moment in Santa Cruz’s history. If you visit, take a moment to locate the image and consider its place in the city’s religious tradition.
Perguntas frequentes
Where is Iglesia de San Francisco?
It is at Calle de San Francisco, 13, in the historic centre of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Plaza del Príncipe is nearby.
What is the church known for?
It is known for its Baroque architecture, three-nave interior and the image of Señor de las Tribulaciones, associated with the 1893 cholera procession.
When was the church built?
The present building was completed in 1680, when it was part of a Franciscan convent. It became a parish in 1869.
Is the entrance wheelchair accessible?
The entrance is listed as wheelchair accessible.
