The board members of the Council of Adeje approved this week unanimously the motion to declare cultural heritage the pilgrimage to the Virgin of the Incarnation, after reading the report presented by the authorities of the heritage department within the city council, which stated that the pilgrimage to the Virgin is a religious and cultural event part of Adeje’s cultural identity. Now, the motion will be submitted to the Council of Tenerife to begin the necessary procedures.

The story of the pilgrimage started in the 17th century when the image of the Virgin of the Incarnation was transported from La Enramada to the Santa Úrsula’s chapel to protect it from the pirates. Since then, parishioners committed to go on a pilgrimage every five years to take the image of the Virgin from Santa Úrsula to La Enramada (which is called San Sebastian nowadays). This commitment is stated in a document dated in the year 1782 that can be seen at the Museo Canario (Canary Museum) in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

The Council of Adeje received the support of the Incarnation Brotherhood, the Saint Michael Archangel Royal Canary Academy of Arts and La Laguna University. Besides, the action counted with the support of the Canary Studies Institute, the Bishopric of Tenerife and the Public Library from Santa Cruz.