Ermita de San Antonio Abad

Updated 4 August 2026

La Matanza de Acentejo

Linked to the nearby Battle of AcentejoPromise of the scribe Antón VallejoTemple documented around 1539

A small temple whose tradition links it directly to the Battle of Acentejo, fought just a few metres away in the ravine. Legend holds that one of the first scribes of the archipelago, Anton Vallejo, vowed to build a hermitage if he survived or won that battle; the shrine is documented around 1539. It is dedicated to Saint Anthony the Abbot, protector of animals, and its surroundings host one of the island's most distinctive livestock celebrations.

It is a simple, endearing spot that brings together popular devotion, historical memory and rural roots in a single place.

Essential information

Accessibility

It is located in the urban area of La Matanza de Acentejo, in the Plaza de San Antonio adjacent to the temple itself (CP 38379); the municipality is accessed by car via the TF-5 North highway and the TF-217 main road, leaving the vehicle in the vicinity of the town center to reach the square on foot.