Real Santuario de Nuestra Senora de las Nieves
Marian sanctuary above Santa Cruz de La Palma, home to the island's patron saint and heart of the famous Bajada de la Virgen.
The Royal Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Snows stands on a wooded rise above Santa Cruz de La Palma, surrounded by laurel forest and chestnut trees. The church guards the image of the Virgen de las Nieves, patron saint of the island, a much-revered figure venerated by the people of La Palma for centuries.
The sanctuary is the focal point of the Bajada de la Virgen, the great lustral festival that every five years carries the image in procession from the heights down to the capital, in one of the most crowded celebrations in the Canaries. Beyond those special days, the site invites a peaceful visit through its Baroque interior and natural surroundings, with views towards the city and the Atlantic.
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