This post is also available in: 
Español (Spanish)
Nowadays, you can see castles in Lanzarote, some are small, others are big fortresses. They are there since the conqueror times, built to protect the Canary Islands from pirates and sailers. The castles have been restored, and you can see and visit them on the island. Some of these structures are now museums.
Lanzarote, a place of contrast
Lanzarote is an island full of contrast. You can enjoy the sun almost every day of the year, so the beaches are the main attraction, but not so far are the volcanic views. The Timanfaya National Park is one of the most popular excursions in Lanzarote. There you can see the volcanoes and eat food made with the heat of the earth.
But besides beaches and volcanoes, there are beautiful traditional towns, wineries, gardens, caves, museums.
Today, Lanzarote is a peaceful place to visit. It is famous as a tourist island, but once it was a target for conquerors and pirates. These attacks forced the locals to defend themselves, and they did it by building castles and towers for their military defence.
This is why nowadays, in Lanzarote, you can visit four main castles. The castles and towers were built with stone to defend the locals from pirates and unwelcome people. They are excellent excursions to go with kids.
Lanzarote was conquered in the XV century (1402), and since then on the island, as in other Canary Islands, they had to build castles and towers to protect this land. The island was wanted, and many conquerors and pirates from other European countries, also pirates from Africa.
When these pirates came to the island, they stole and looted their most precious goods and food. In addition, they kidnapped the population, demanded ransom for them, or sold them as slaves.
The population looked for a way to protect themselves from these attacks by pirates and conquerors, defending themselves and seeking refuge. But already at the end of the 17th century, they had built castles to improve their protection. From that time, many castles remain in good condition, and tourists can visit them.
Castles in Lanzarote
There are some castles you can visit in Lanzarote. Read some information about them here:
Las Coloradas Castle in Playa Blanca
Also known as Torre del Águila or Eagle Tower is in Playa Blanca. It was built over the remains of the Rubicon Tower, from the first humans towns on the Canary Island, around 1400. It is near the Marina Rubicon, this is a touristic spot on the south of the island.
This castle was built in 1741, then rebuilt in 1769 with the help of the engineer Alejandro de Los Angeles. Its primary objective was to protect the island from the British pirates.
During the 18th century, it was attacked many times, but now it is restored, and you can visit it.
The building has a circular architecture, built from stone, cal and wood. Even though the castle is in great shape, it is closed to public attendance, so you can only see it from outside.
San Gabriel Castle in Arrecife
This castle has a diamond-shaped structure in Arrecife. San Gabriel Castle was built at the end of the 16th century (1576) by the orders of Felipe II, then destroyed. And in 1587 was rebuilt by the order of a military engineer, Leonardo Torriani, as the castle we know today.
Nowadays, the castle has a small museum, the Historical Museum of Arrecife. It displays some historical and archaeological pieces. You can get there walking through the Bolas Bridge, which is a National Historical Patrimony since 1972. Meanwhile, the San Gabriel Castle was an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1979.
It is in a small islet, opens from Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 17:00, and on Saturdays from 10:00 to 14:00, it is close on Sundays.
It is worthy to visit this castle. You can appreciate beautiful views of the ocean, and it is a big one, so you can walk around. In the entrance, you will see two bronze howitzers in perfect conservation.
San Jose Castle
It was built between 1776 and 1779, by order of Carlos III. It is in Arrecife, so with the San Gabriel Castle, it was intended to protect the capital from pirates. Furthermore, it is near the Naos port, it has D shape.
On those years was the Timanfaya volcano eruption, so the island was affected, the crops were devastated. The idea was to give a job to the population and avoid hunger. This is why it is called the Fortress of Hanger (Fortaleza del hambre).
In the San Jose castle, you can find the International Museum of Contemporary Art (MIAC). It was abandoned, and in the mid of the 20th century, the architect and artist César Manrique convinced the authorities to restore it and convert it into an art gallery. In 1976, it was opened as a museum.
In the castle, there is a modern restaurant designed by Manrique, with panoramic views of the port.
Santa Bárbara Castle
In this castle, now you can find the Museum of Piracy, it is in Teguise. It was built over an antique tower from the 15th century, in the 16th century, as rebuilt and made into the castle we can see today. These renovations were an idea of Leonardo Torriani, the idea was to make it a shelter for the people of Teguise.
In that time, Teguiste was the capital of Lanzarote, so this castle was meant to protect this town. It has a defensive wall around the towers
In the 19th century, it was abandoned. In the early 20th century, the control of this castle was assigned to the municipality of Teguise.
In 1991, it opened as a museum dedicated to the migration from the Canary Islands to America. Then in 2011 opened as Museum of Piracy, where you can see ships models, projections, videos and more.
These four are the castles in Lanzarote, the fortress you can see on the island. Most of them are now museums, and you can visit them to appreciate a part of the history of the island and art exhibitions. Contact us to book excursions in Lanzarote.
This post is also available in: Español (Spanish)