la orotava corpus christi carpet 2026

La Orotava’s Corpus Christi carpet honours Pope Leo XIV visit

Design of La Orotava’s Corpus Christi carpet unveiled

The design of the grand sand carpet that adorns La Orotava Town Hall Square each year for Corpus Christi was unveiled yesterday. Titled ‘Canarian Paradise’, the artwork features Mount Teide, Pope Leo XIV, the Red Cross, and the flora and fauna of the Canary Islands. It will be fully revealed on the Infraoctava of Corpus Christi, 11 June, the day before the Supreme Pontiff’s arrival on the island. Work has already begun in the square, with the first outlines of the design laid down beneath the large tent erected to protect it from any inclement weather.

A tapestry of Canarian nature and social conscience

The carpet carries a social message, highlighting the humanitarian aid given to migrants reaching the Canary Islands’ shores. This is represented in the foreground by an image of the Red Cross offering care – an organisation that, among other collaborators, often remains anonymous. The entire scene unfolds under the watchful gaze of Pope Leo XIV, who will visit the Canary Islands the day after the carpet is fully displayed, intending to draw attention to the migration tragedy, denounce injustice, and express his commitment to the most vulnerable.

The carpet’s director, Domingo González Expósito, explained that this year continues the artistic line of the previous one, once again showcasing a single large carpet with a composition that brings together a rich representation of the archipelago’s flora and fauna, conceived as an offering around the Virgin. In the background, the imposing image of Mount Teide stands out, accompanied by the characteristic sea of clouds of the La Orotava Valley. The work includes species such as the blue chaffinch, Canary blue tit, grey wagtail, Teide fire beetle, lizard, and Cleopatra butterflies, some of which are endangered.

As for the flora, elements such as the aeonium canariense (berol) and the tajinaste are prominent, both framing the carpet at a symbolic height of 20 metres, alongside species like hibiscus, lotus or dove’s beak, Teide violet, and Canary bellflower.

Special anniversary for Our Lady of Mount Carmel

The carpet takes on special significance by incorporating, as an offering, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, who will occupy the centre of the composition. This marks two anniversaries: the 775th anniversary of the Holy Scapular (1251-2026) and the 75th anniversary of the consecration of the town, valley and archpriesthood of La Orotava to this devotion (1951-2026).

Traditional craftsmanship continues

The collective ArteArena will be responsible for executing the carpet, a task its director Domingo González Expósito has led since 1992. This year, new male and female collaborators have joined the team. The grand carpet, made with the traditional natural soils from Teide National Park, will once again turn La Orotava Town Hall Square into an artistic and spiritual landmark, reflecting the identity, nature and solidarity values of the Canarian people during the Corpus Christi celebrations.

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