Betancuria

The Betancuria Archaeological Museum is located in the Roberto Roldan Street, it is easily recognized because the entrance is flanked by two canons that were used to fight against pirate invasions that Fuerteventura suffered during the 15th century. The idea of creating an archaeological museum in the town is based on the donation of a piece of the old mahos, who were the first settlers of the island (it should be noted that the island was named Mahoh that wants say my country) and that they met by chance in a majestic field. The initiative is launched by a neighbor of Betancuria called Vicente Ruiz, who was collecting and ordering all the materials they were finding. The paleontological wealth of the island is unquestionable and can be observed from the first moment they enter the premises. You can see photographs of the places where the aboriginal settlements were, models of them and of course there are exposed remains of ceramics, tools and tiles made with mollusks or bones. The facilities of the Archaeological Museum of Betancuria also show how the ancient settlers worshiped religious pain and as an example that demonstrates these adorations, figures made of stones are exhibited. To this is added the information about the mountain of Tindaya with its podomorphs as the basis of the mgico-religious world of the ancient majoneros. There is also the possibility to learn the techniques of grazing and fishing of the first settlers as well as how they get the precious water or how they fed the mahos. The information is completed thanks to the explanatory sheets that can be read by the different rooms of the archaeological museum and where the ethnographic elements used by the majoneros until a few years ago, take center stage and They serve to close the tour of the different rooms of this very interesting center.

The Morro de Velosa is one of those interesting natural landscapes whose views will surprise those who decide to visit it. Located very close to the town of Betancuria, Morro Velosa. It has a viewpoint that gives stunning views of this part of Fuerteventura. Looking north you can see the coastal town of El Cotillo or the unmistakable Montaña de Tindaya, Turning the view to the south it is possible to see the town of Antigua or the volcanoes next to Tiscamanita. The first thing that catches the attention of the views that give this impressive balcony is the wild place, dominated by the ocher tones of its landscape, without nuclei of populations, with some sinuous ravines and with some hamlets dotted by the immensity earth color. The feeling of serenity and spaciousness that these views give will not leave anyone indifferent. Like many other constructions scattered around the Canary archipelago, the Morro Velosa viewpoint was designed by the architect Cesar Manrique. This site is a large house with a wooden entrance and cobbled facade with colors that adapt perfectly to the environment in which it is located. In addition, its facilities offer information about the volcanic origin of the island, making a review of all its geological past. The Morro Velosa viewpoint also houses a cafeteria where you can take anything while you enjoy the views. In the Morro de Velosa it is also possible to enjoy incredible starry nights where you can see without the inconvenience of light pollution all the immensity of the universe.Located in the Tegú mountain, with 669 meters of altitude, this species of natural watchtower is the perfect place to enjoy all the constellations during the night. At the end of summer you can see the double letter V that corresponds to the constellation of Cassiopeia, of the most recognizable in the northern hemisphere, nearby is the Ursa Minor, you can enjoy the imposing Via Lactea or Cefeo among other stellar treasures.

In the historic center of the municipality of Betancuria is the church of Santa María de Betancuria or Iglesia Matriz de la Concepción. Even though it is the least populated town in the Canary Islands, Betancuria keeps interesting treasures like this interesting religious building. Historically the construction of what is now the Church of Santa María de Betancuria began at the beginning of the 15th century when the conquistadors who came to the island decided to erect a simple oratory to which to be able to go to comply with the religious precepts. Years later this small chapel was replaced by a larger one, already with the intention of converting it into the temple that remains today. It was sent to build by Jean de Bethencorut and Jean Le Maçon (literally Juan the Bricklayer) was commissioned to execute the work that was built following the canons of the French Gothic style of the fifteenth century. In 1593 the church came to be destroyed by the Berber pirates who destroyed the town of Betancuria after being captained by the corsair Xabán Arráez. This contingent of more than 200 pirates looted all valuable items and left the area desolate. In the 16th century, the reconstruction works of the temple began, but they did not finish until the last decade of the 17th century. During this reconstruction Gothic, Mudejar, Renaissance and Baroque elements were added. The Church is a building divided into three naves with presbytery and chapels, the square tower is attached to the wall of the epistle by the feet of the temple. Inside the temple, we must highlight the choir that is located at the foot of the main nave, made of wood, carved and polychrome.The floor is also an interesting element covered by slabs of stonework with crossing of wood slats that separate the slabs. The pulpit is made of wood with symbols representing the Eucharist and the Apostles. Ambienta there is a lot of altarpieces inside: Christ Tied to the Column, Altarpiece of San Buenaventura, altarpiece of Souls or the Sacred Heart of Jesus among others.

Although Betancuria is the least populated municipality of Canarias, it offers visitors some monuments of great value. Among these monuments is the Museum of Sacred Art of Betancuria, its rooms house an extensive collection of paintings, sculptures, priestly garments and a wide variety of goldsmith's pieces that represent in a very interesting way the sacred art on the island. Even though the Museum of Sacred Art of Betancuria is small, it houses pieces of worship that belonged to the parish since its foundation back in the 15th century. Walking around the Betancuria area you will arrive at the museum through the Mayor Carmelo Silvena street. The building is perfectly seen since it was an old house, which stands out for the tiles of its external roof and wood inwards. Another of the elements that draw attention when you see the facade, is the balcony located on the main door of the enclosure and thanks to a staircase gives access to the interior from the street. Also striking is the dark-colored stonework that is in the corners of the exterior walls. Before becoming the Museum of Sacred Art, the building was the residence of ecclesiastical beneficiaries, as well as religious authorities of the local parish. The pieces exhibited in the museum come from hermitages and churches throughout the island of Fuerteventura. The surroundings of the Museum of Sacred Art is also a very interesting place, garden areas, a pleasant walk to the access and a nearby park are some of the elements that visitors will find before accessing the building. An ideal place to deepen part of the artistic work offered by the island of Fuerteventura.

The San Diego hermitage is located in the villa of Betancuria, close to the vestiges of the old Franciscan church-convent of San Buenaventura The hermitage owes its name to Saint Diego de Alcalá who was a Franciscan friar who was a missionary in Canary Islands between 1441 and 1449 and who became guardian of the convent of Fuerteventura. During his stay, Saint Diego de Alcalá, he dedicated himself to the evangelization of the natives, coming to defend them from the Spanish conquerors. It is known that the Hermitage of San Diego de Alcalá was built on a small cave to which San Diego retired to pray during the period that was destined on the island. The building that today is conserved was built for the most part in the second half of the seventeenth century, coinciding with the reconstruction of other buildings in Betancuria after the incursion of Xabán Arráez that devastated the city. The hermitage of San Diego is a building of two naves with roofs to four waters and tiles, both ships are separated by pillars joined by an arch that support the wooden deck. Externally it is easily recognized since its façade is white and punctuated by edges that make the walls stand. The pulpit of the Hermitage of San Diego is made of wood and is attached to the wall of the Gospel. It also has a toral arch supported by classic supports, with large plinths from which the columns emerge. Another outstanding element is the baptismal font, located next to the central pillar and made in clear stonework. Inside the cave that is still preserved there is an altarpiece of reduced dimensions of wood with polychrome and golden finishes whose upper part is a niche shaped like a shell.The altarpiece is completed with decorations with wooden reliefs with a shield of territorial lords and plant motifs.

In the Valley of Rio Palmas in the municipality of Betancuria is also the Hermitage and Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rock that is the patron saint of Fuerteventura. In this hermitage is venerated the Virgin of the Rock also known as La Peñita for being a small image. Unlike other temples found in the Betancuria villa, this is a single nave. The façade of the hermitage is of a class style and is made of stone, this element is noble and is used very little in buildings of this type, which demonstrates the importance of this site. Among the elements to be highlighted in the Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Peña is the semicircular arch surrounded by plinths decorated with coffered ceilings and capitals that houses an empty tympanum fronton. The hermitage as it is known today was built during the eighteenth century by agreement of the residents of Fuerteventura who decided to build a new temple in honor of the patron saint of the island, these works were extended for 11 years , between 1705 and 1716 and ended on August 26. The Hermitage of Our Lady of La Peña was declared a historical-artistic monument of intestes for the autonomous community of Canarias in 1985. The Hermitage also has three altarpieces and sculptures in which they are represented Saint Lucia, San Lorenzo, San Sebastián and already mentioning Our Lady of La Peña who presides over the temple. With regard to the Virgen de la Peña is one of the oldest of the Canary Islands and the most remote of the 7 patrons of the archipelago, the image dates from the fifteenth century and was not until the mid-sixteenth was proclaimed lawyer and defender of Fuerteventura.

The Betancuria Rural Park covers an area of 16,500 hectares and takes land from 5 municipalities on the island of Fuertevetura, in addition to Betancuria strong>, you will find: Antigua, Pájara, Tuineje and the capital Puerto del Rosario. This natural area is located in the central-western sector of the island and inside is the Ajuy Natural Monument. This rural park is an immense arid terrain with semi-desert touches of rugged terrain. The landscape stands out for the impressive coppery and ocher tones that give the ravines and mountain escarpments an arid beauty, simply spectacular, to this is added the important geomorphological and ethnographic value of the natural zone. Within the Betancuria Rural Park are several mountains of medium and low altitude, these are the Morro Jana of 764 meters, the Gran Mountain of 708 meters, the Morro de la Cruz with 676 meters or the Morro de Velosa which has a height of 669 meters and which houses a viewpoint from which can be seen part of the site. The rural park also houses the Ajuy Natural Monument which is a deposit with an incalculable geological value with fossils of extinct animals and marine sediments. The park also offers other elements such as the Las Peñitas dam, which contrasts sharply with the arid character of the entire area, as well as the Guise and Ayose /> that are named after the two old caudillos majoneros. With regard to the vegetation of the Betancuria Rural Park is scarce but you can see scrub, dotted with some tamarinds, tabaids or palm trees. The fauna is dominated by birds and it is possible to spot ospreys, kestrels, shearwaters or tits. The lovers of the trekking can realize routes by the different signposted footpaths that extend by the place and that allow to arrive at the different points of interest that there are by the zone.

Betancuria stands out as one of the least populated towns in the Canary Islands, but has many places of interest and religious buildings of remarkable artistic importance. The Chapel of Santa Inés is another of the temples that are distributed in the municipality, specifically this is located in the Valley of Santa Inés. The hermitage of Santa Inés is a single-nave construction, with a square floor plan that has a side sacristy with a quadrangular floor plan and no separate chapel. There is evidence that the sanctuary already existed in 1586, believing that it receives the name of Santa Inés because it was sent to be built by Doña I nés Peraza, who together with her husband, Diego García de Herrera they bore the lordship of Fuerteventura in the 15th century. The hermitage also suffered looting during the invasion of the corsair Xaban Arráez, since there were few people defending the temple they also ransacked the premises with a chasuble, a wooden cross gilded, some white ciriales together with some images of the virgin. The hermitage also received some improvements over the years, in the eighteenth century a new pavement with stone was installed, in addition the sacristy was added of 5.8 by 5.8. The last restoration that the hermitage received was carried out in 2011, among the elements that were arranged, it is worth mentioning the natural stone pavement that was installed to facilitate access to the temple and in this way enhance the presence of the building much more. For the construction of the walls we used whitewashed masonry that alternates with the stonework that is used in corner and vain blocks. The temple is completed inside with 2 altars also of stonework and lime in which are the Ánimas and the Virgen de los Dolores.

El Parque Rural de Betancuria tiene una extensión de 16,500 hectáreas y coge terreno de 5 municipios de la isla de Fuertevetura, además de la propia Betancuria, se encuentra: Antigua, Pájara, Tuineje y la capital Puerto del Rosario. Este paraje natural está situado en el sector centro-occidental de la isla y dentro se halla el Monumento Natural de Ajuy.Este parque rural es un inmenso terreno árido y con toques semidesérticos de orografía accidentada. El paraje destaca por los impresionantes tonos cobrizos y ocres que dan a los barrancos y escarpes montañosos una belleza árida simplemente espectaculares a esto se une el importante valor geomorfológico y etnogŕáfico de la zona natural.Dentro del Parque Rural de Betancuria se encuentran varias montañas de media y baja altura, estas son el Morro Jana de 764 metros, la Gran Montaña de 708 metros, el Morro de la Cruz con 676 metros o el Morro de Velosa que cuenta con una altura de 669 metros y que alberga un mirador desde el cual se puede divisar parte del paraje. El parque rural también alberga el Monumento Natural de Ajuy que es un depósito con un incalculable valor geológico con fósiles de animales extinguidos y sedimentos marinos.El parque ofrece también otros elementos como la presa de Las Peñitas, que contrasta fuertemente con el carácter árido de toda la zona, también está el mirador de Guise y Ayose que reciben el nombre de los dos antiguos caudillos majoneros.Con respecto a la vegetación del Parque Rural de Betancuria es escasa pero puede verse matorral, salpicados por algunos tamarindos, tabaidas o palmeras. La fauna está dominada por las aves y es posible divisar águilas pescadoras, cernícalos, pardelas o herrerillos.Los amantes del senderismo puede realizar rutas por los diferentes senderos señalizados que se extienden por el paraje y que permiten llegar a los distintos puntos de interés que hay por la zona.