Cánar
Things to see
Iglesia Parroquial de Santa Ana
Built by Christians at the beginning of the sixteenth century on the site of a Muslim hermitage, the monument consists of a central nave and a main chapel, which are separated by a large arch. There is a roof for each section. The monument suffered during the Alpujarras War between 1568 and 1571, when it was destroyed and burned by the Moors. It was repaired in 1594, but was not structurally sound, so its framework was rebuilt in 1629.
In 1832, the tower was lowered to a bell tower as it was considered too high and susceptible to being knocked down by strong winds. The most notable feature inside the church is the beautiful altarpiece on the main altar, which dates from 1600, although the finishing touches and gilding date from 1753. Built with pine wood, the altarpiece was restored in the late twentieth century. Other notable features are the images of Santa Ana and San Joaquín, the town's patrons, as well as those of Cristo de la Salud, San Juan and the Inmaculada Concepción. In 1950, the parish priest decided to remove the existing bronze bells and melt them down. He replaced them with others made of a cheaper material. The church is located in Plaza Santa Ana.