Teror between Pilgrimage, Market and Nature

The Virgen del Pino is the patron saint of the Diocese of the Canary Islands and has long been a religious reference point for many Canarians. Its Fiesta del Pino takes place every year on 8 September; the commemorative events extend throughout the entire month. Especially on 7 and 8 September, pilgrims from different parts of the island walk to Teror. The descent and ascent of the image of the Virgen del Pino are among the central events in the festival calendar.

Historic Centre

The municipal tourist office provides information about the tourist and cultural attractions of the municipality of Teror and, upon prior registration, organises tours of the historic centre. Its most important street is Calle Real de la Plaza; it runs from Muro Nuevo to Plaza del Pino. The centre is divided into the lower Barrio de Abajo, with the most important monuments, and the higher Barrio de Arriba, with panoramic views. On a walking tour, visitors can discover religious buildings and manor houses that emerged around the sanctuary of the Virgen. The historic centre around the Basílica del Pino was declared a historic-artistic ensemble in April 1979.

Culture and Architectural History

The present-day Basílica del Pino was built between 1760 and 1767 and declared a minor basilica in 1916. As a Baroque church, it has three naves divided by 14 semicircular arches. The bell tower, Torre Amarilla, was inaugurated in 1708 and preserves architectural elements of the second temple that preceded the present-day Basílica del Pino. The museum and the Camarín of the Virgen can be accessed via the rear of the basilica. One of the historic houses on Plaza del Pino displays numerous objects and pieces of furniture from the Manrique de Lara entail, including photographs, tapestries, porcelain, furniture and paintings.

Teror also has a religious route along seven churches and hermitages, two monasteries, private chapels and other religious points of interest. Calle Real de la Plaza preserves traditional wooden balconies with tiled roofs, opposing projecting stone balconies with wrought-iron details, one of Teror’s oldest houses at number 10, and one of the few traditional barbershops on the island. Calle Herrería forms part of the old Camino Real de Mar a Cumbre, which ran through Teror to Valleseco and onward into the centre of the island. Plaza Teresa de Bolívar preserves artistic traces of Néstor Álamo and the Canarian artist Santiago Santana. The Cistercian nuns’ monastery was moved to its new convent in Cercado de los Castaños on 8 November 1888. The oldest surviving bridge in Gran Canaria was built between 1824 and 1828.

Markets and Flavours

The Mercadillo de Teror takes place on Sundays around the Basílica del Pino and has a history of around two hundred years as one of the oldest street markets on the island. Also on Sundays, El Rincón del Artesano on Plaza del Pino is a place for promoting and selling Canarian handicrafts; the area is integrated into Teror’s Sunday market, and local artisans make up the majority of participants. Teror’s gastronomic offering and heritage include truchas, aniseed biscuits, marzipan and rosco pastries made by the Cistercian nuns. In Teror’s main square, a bocadillo with Chorizo de Teror is recommended together with water from the spring.

Other place references: El Hornillo, Las Nieves, Tasartico, Telde, Ojos de Garza, San Lorenzo, El Majuelo, Tarajalillo

Nature and Trails

Finca de Osorio is a protected natural area covering 207 hectares and located approximately two kilometres from Teror’s historic centre. It includes paths, mountains, a ravine, agricultural land and woodland; the finca also contains an Aula de la Naturaleza for environmental education. The Mirador de la Vuelta de los Pájaros offers elevated views of Teror’s historic centre. The Sendero de Hoya Alta begins at Plaza de Nuestra Señora del Pino and is an approximately two-hour, 4-kilometre out-and-back route with a moderate to high level of difficulty due to steep inclines. From Casa de Pinito, visitors can either climb to Pico de Osorio or descend to the Casona of the finca. In Barranco de Teror, there is a spring with mineral healing water, less than one kilometre from the historic centre.

For the overarching travel overview: Gran Canaria.