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Betancuria, FuerteventuraYou are here: Fuerteventura > Information Pages > Towns & Villages > Betancuria
This beautiful town, located in the centre of the island, was once the capital of Fuerteventura. Long before the days of shipping made a coastal location a necessity, frequent raids by marauding pirates and other unwelcome visitors meant that it was necessary to take refuge inland. It was the Norman conqueror Jean de Bethancourt that first chose to settle here in 1404, after taking the island from the tribal chiefs Guize and Ayoze. The valley made the perfect location, being surrounded by mountains, which served as lookout posts for pirate attacks. From here he introduced Christianity to the island, building the church of Santa Maria which is at the heart of the village. It is actually the oldest church in the Canary Islands, having been built in 1424. Nearby you can see the ruins of the monastery that was built by seven Fransiscan monks who physically carried all of the building materials to the site. As there was no wood available to make the roof, dried palm fronds were used. Unfortunately the monastery was set on fire during the Moorish invasions of the early 15th century, but in 1460 it was rebuilt and extended. Sadly, in the 19th century, the roof caved in and it has not yet been restored. The ruin is still worth a visit though, as the walls, some gothic arches and altars are still in existence. The village also has a museum, a nice selection of gift shops and a truly delightful bodega that has a traditional restaurant and the most wonderful display of flowers and foliage that you will come across on the island. The local crafts are embroidery and ceramics, with locally produced goats cheese also available at an excellent price. |
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