The president of the island Government visits the completed roof waterproofing works, which have required an investment of 58.000 euros from the insular Historical Heritage Service
The international recognition of the Playa del Inglés temple and its contribution to the development of the 'Maspalomas Costa Canaria' project stands out.
The president of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales, today praised the architectural and heritage value of the El Salvador Ecumenical Temple, in Playa del Inglés, during his visit to the site to learn about the results of the restoration and waterproofing works on the roofs carried out. in it and financed with 58.000 euros from funds from the Historical Heritage Service of the Ministry of the Presidency, coordinated by Teodoro Sosa.
President Morales, who was accompanied by the delegate of economic affairs of the Diocese of the Canary Islands, Eloy Santiago, highlighted the uniqueness of this temple, which he described as "an exceptional work", which combines the architectural avant-garde, the local fishing tradition and spiritual and mystical force.
“We are facing the most important modern religious architectural work in Gran Canaria, which is an icon for the south of the Island and for the people who visit us, because it opened a new space for those who come here to enjoy the climate and the possibilities.” that Gran Canaria offers. Everything that revolves around this temple results in its international recognition,” he maintained. “Today, the Ecumenical Temple is a world reference. "The first in Spain and the most important in Europe, for its continued work for thousands of tourists for fifty years."
Thus, he revealed that its history is linked to that of 'Maspalomas Costa Canaria', the pioneering urban project in the international promotion of the tourist destination of Gran Canaria and which involved the creation of a tourist city, where there was no infrastructure for the establishment of a population. "Ten years after that initiative, Maspalomas received more tourists than the capital of Gran Canaria, who, in addition to sun and beach, needed attention to their religious beliefs," he said.
In this context and in response to the needs raised by the Swedish visitors, the Count of Vega Grande, Alejandro del Castillo, conveyed these requests to the then Bishop of the Diocese of the Canary Islands, Monsignor Infantes Florido, who promoted the construction of that ecumenical temple that became the second created in Europe by the Vatican Council and the first dedicated to a tourist destination.
A venue that, as the island president emphasized, was declared as a whole 'Excellent Tourism' in 2002, “for bringing together in its commendable religious, social and cultural work the tourists in general who visit Maspalomas and for being a place where they coexist. in harmony and tolerance practically all the official and free Churches of Europe” and “because it maintains its essential aspects and has become a hallmark and the main point of reference of Playa del Inglés, the most internationally known area of Maspalomas.”
At this point, Antonio Morales recalled that the works on the temple began in 1969 and that it was inaugurated in January 1971, with the presence of Monsignor Infantes Florido himself and Alejandro del Castillo, who gave the land and financed
