The route around the churches of La Palma
This interesting route takes you round the areas with a wealth of religious structures, such as churches, monasteries and hermitages, which can be found despite the islands unusual volcanic formations.
We begin our journey in the islands capital, Santa Cruz de la Plama. Due to the numerous interesting monuments here this town has been declared a place of Historic - Artistic interest. There are many to enjoy such as the Town Hall, the Mudejar style parish church - El Salvador whose interior houses many liturgical pieces of great value, the Massieu palatial house, the Santa Catalina castle raised above the mouth of the Barranco de las Nieves, the naval museum, the "Virgen" boat, the museum of Ethnography and Archaeology where we can view many ceramic objects and the island's museum which has canvases from Sorolla and Madrazo on display.

We take the C-830 and arrive at Puntallana and the San Juan Bautista church, round which the town was built. Continuing on the same road we take a stop at Los Sauces and San Andrés, which were divided into two municipalities until the 19th century. The religious monuments here include the Nuestra Señora de Montserrat gothic church, which houses a 17th century image of the town patron saint the "Virgen". Continuing on the C-830 until Llano Negro then taking a local road on to Garafía with the Virgen de la Luz church. There area archaeological sites here such as Zarza and la Cueva del Sauce. Near the town you'll find the la Caldera de Taburiente national park, one of the biggest craters in the world, measuring 28km in perimeter, 10km in diameter in its widest part and an amazing 1500 meters deep as well as the Roque de los Muchachos, at 2400 meters it is considered the highest point on the island and most important astrophysics observatories in Europe. The la Caldera is an interesting horseshoe shaped crater where the sea leaves via the Barranco de las Angustias. The park is registered as a bird sanctuary by Europe.

We continue on the local road until Puntagorda, where we take the C-832 until Tijarafe with its 16th century church - Candelaria, which houses an image of the towns patron saint, the Virgen de Candelaria. We carry on the same road to Los Llanos de Aridane, a locality with one of the most spectacular volcanic archipelago landscapes. This area is well known for its banana and tobacco plantations. the most important monument here is the Los Llanos church which houses the image of Los remedies.

We finish our journey in the locality of Mazo with its 16th century church, San Blas. In the surrounding area you'll find the La Montaña de Azufre nature park and the volcanic cone on a cliff.