When you think about some of the most majestic castles in Spain, In general, some forts on the Iberian Peninsula come to mind, such as the Alcázar of Segovia or the Castle-Palace of Olite, but the truth is that both in the Balearic Islands and in the Canary Islands There are also beautiful constructions with these characteristics. In fact, in the archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean There are numerous incredible forts.
Precisely in the Lanzarote island is one of the most spectacular forts in all the Canary Islands, which is none other than the wonderful San José Castle. It is erected on the shores of the Atlantic, in the town of Arrecife, and hides a tragic story: her nickname is the ‘The Fortress of Hunger’. Of course, this construction is also of enormous beauty, which earned it to be declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1949.
The Castle of San José and the reason for its nickname
The construction of the Castillo de San José began in the year 1776 and finished in 1779. The reason for erecting this fort was twofold: the first reason was to protect this coastal area of Lanzarote from the pirate raids that devastated the waters of the Atlantic, but the second cause is the main one: four decades before the first stone was laid, the Timanfaya erupted, leaving the islanders with hardly anything to put in their mouths because the crop fields They were destroyed.
That, added to a previous drought that devastated the entire island, put the inhabitants of Lanzarote in an extreme situation. The neighbors They were starving, and for this reason Carlos III ordered the construction of the San José Castle in Arrecife, a public project that gave work to hundreds of people. For this reason, this fort is also known as ‘The Fortress of Hunger’. Almost 250 years later, it remains standing on a cliff above the well-known Puerto de Naos.
Another thing that makes this fortress peculiar is that it has ‘D’ shape, since the walls facing the sea are circular, while the entrance is a completely straight façade with a turret on each side. This built with volcanic stone and inside you can find numerous rooms with vaulted ceilings.
It fell into disuse and was abandoned until the mid-20th century, when it was renovated and became the current International Museum of Contemporary Art. Tickets to visit the museum cost five euros for adults, while there are discounts for both children and Canarian residents.
Sign up for the newsletter and receive the best proposals for traveling the world in your email.
#Lanzarote #castle #Fortress #Hunger #Asset #Cultural #Interest #Atlantic
