Nuestra Señora de la Concepción Chapel
The Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción is located in the small village of Llanos de la Concepción, within the municipality of Puerto del Rosario, in the interior of Fuerteventura. This temple is the main heritage, religious and social reference of the village, and one of the most representative examples of rural religious architecture majorera.
Origin and history
Until the end of the 18th century, the place where the village is located today was known as Llanos del Otro Valle or Llanos de Santa Inés. The definitive impulse for the creation of the current population center came with the construction of the hermitage, built between 1784 and 1796 thanks to the collective effort of the neighbors. The temple was blessed in 1798, marking a before and after in the identity of the place, which became known as Llanos de la Concepción in honor of the Marian devotion.
Since then, the hermitage has been the spiritual center of the community and the axis around which the social and agricultural life of the village was organized.
Architecture and features
The chapel has a simple and functional architecture, characteristic of the rural temples of Fuerteventura. It consists of a single nave, covered with a three-sided roof, and topped externally by a side belfry for the bell. Its construction responds to criteria of sobriety and use of local materials, integrating naturally into the landscape of the valley.
The interior maintains an austere and recollected atmosphere, according to the humble character of the people, but full of symbolism and devotion. The image of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción presides over the temple, being the object of special veneration by the neighbors.
Environment and landscape
The hermitage is located in a wide inland valley, surrounded by gentle hills and agricultural land that for centuries sustained the local economy based on the cultivation of cereals and livestock. This environment, relatively protected from the winds, offers a clear view of the interior landscape of Fuerteventura and reinforces the sense of calm and authenticity that defines Llanos de la Concepción.
Festivals and popular tradition
The moment of greatest prominence of the hermitage comes with the patron saint festivities in honor of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, which are held every August 15. During these dates, the temple becomes the center of religious and popular events, with liturgical celebrations, processions, pilgrimages and festive activities that bring together neighbors and visitors, keeping alive the tradition and sense of community.
A place to get to know the interior of Fuerteventura
Visiting the Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción is to discover one of the quietest and most authentic corners of the interior of the island. A space that speaks of collective effort, popular faith and agricultural history of Fuerteventura, ideal for those who want to get away from the usual tourist circuits and know the essence of the majoreros peoples.
