Old Monastery Franciscano de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe y San Pablo - Adeje

According to a papal bull of 1486, the Catholic monarchs had received permission from Pope Innocent VIII to found the religious monasteries and convents they deemed necessary in the Kingdom of Granada and the Canary Islands, in return for the necessary revenues.

Almost two centuries later, on August 10, 1679, a monastery was founded in Adeje under the protection of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe y San Pablo, on the initiative of Juan Bautista de Ponte Fonte y Pagés, first Marquis of Adeje. It was founded with eight or nine religious of the Franciscan order and was the nineteenth in the province.

In 1802 there were only three brothers and one layman left. After its exclaustration in 1835, the building was gradually demolished from the beginning of this century and converted into a town hall . Today, the former monastery church remains, which was purchased by this town hall in 1988. In 1991 it was restored and in May 1995 it was opened to the public as Salón de Actos Nobles. Since then, the Adeje Town Hall has used it for solemn or important events such as civil weddings, the opening of the summer university or for classical music concerts.

Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1986 with the Monument category.

Today, what was once the monastery church, purchased by this city council in 1988, still stands. Over time it has had various purposes, such as an inn for a company of soldiers , a warehouse for tomatoes and a high school. In 1991 it was restored and opened to the public in May 1995 as the Museum of Sacred Art.

The church has a main nave and a main chapel accessed via a stone triumphal arch supported by columns of the same material, fitted with Corinthian capitals and surmounted by a Baroque entablature. The Mudejar style coffered ceiling of the nave and choir stands out, although the latter is richer and very similar to that of the Church of Santa Úrsula. On the outside, above the main door leading to the street, the coat of arms of Juan Bautista de Ponte Fonte y Pagés stands out, made in marble and framed by a baroque coffered ceiling.

Willem Vandenameele