Church and square of Santo Domingo

The Plaza and Church of Santo Domingo, together with the surrounding streets, form an architectural ensemble that represents some of the most characteristic styles of Vegueta. At the centre of the square stands a pillar installed in the 18th century, and next to the church is the Hermitage of San Blas.

The Church of Santo Domingo is one of the most significant examples of Baroque architecture on the island. Its interior houses a rich and varied artistic and religious heritage, highlighted by the main altarpiece and valuable images by Luján Pérez and Pedro Antonio Calderón.

The church was built in the early 17th century on the site of the former Hermitage of San Pedro Mártir, founded by the conquistador Pedro de Vera, which from 1522 shared its grounds with the Dominican convent. Both the church and the convent were destroyed in 1599 during the pirate attack led by the Dutchman Pieter van der Does. Of the convent, only the arcades of the former cloister survive, preserved today in the Patio del Pozo of the Casa de Colón.

Every year, during the first week of October, Plaza de Santo Domingo hosts the celebration of the Virgin of the Rosary, featuring a traditional pilgrimage that winds through the streets of Vegueta.