Castillo de San Gabriel

The small, bulky Castillo de San Gabriel is located on a tiny islet, the Islote de los Ingleses, which can be reached by two causeways, one for traffic and one for pedestrians, the latter passing over the Puente de las Bolas, a small drawbridge with two cannonballs on top of its pillars – hence the name ‘Ball Bridge’. Built originally as a wooden fortress, it proofed completely insufficient for any defence purposes, and was eventually burnt down by Berber pirates. Replaced by a stone castle in 1572, it was reinforced in 1586 and again in 1590, but still found inadequate for serious military functions. Eventually completely rebuilt in 1592 by the Italian architect Leonardo Torriani, this low, square fortress finally played a vital part in the protection of the harbour and the town. Its pretty honey-coloured stonework and unusual setting make the rather austere outside structures more appealing. Two weather-beaten cannons flank the entrance to a modest ethnological and archaeological museum, where an assortment of historic items, such as pottery, primitive jewellery, coins, fossils, anchors and a few skeletons and skulls dating back to Guanche times, are on display. It also contains a statuette of El Brujo, the wizard, from which Manrique took his inspiration for his daring design of the ‘devil logo’ for Timanfaya’s National Park.

From the upper level of the fortress, which was declared National Historic Monument in 1972, magnificent views over the city and the Atlantic can be enjoyed.

Opening hours:
The castle is open Tuesday to Friday from 10.00 to 13.00 hrs and from 16.00 to 19.00 hrs and on Saturdays from 10.00 to 13.00 hrs.

The museum has erratic opening times; there is also a small entrance fee.

Returning to the shore on the pedestrian causeway, right opposite the islet starts the Calle León y Castillo, the main shopping street leading into town, where the Centro Commercial Atlantida with Lanzarote’s largest department store is located. Quite in the beginning of this street, to the right, you will see the old building of the Cabildo Insular with its attractive tiled frontage and a church clock. Also worth visiting nearby are the Casa Agustín de la Hoz, which is now a club, and Casa de los Arroyos, dating back to 1749 and featuring a courtyard with wooden galleries and a well in its centre. Today, this building accommodates the Centro Científico Cultural with a permanent exhibition dedicated to life and work of the great physicist Blas Cabrera Felipe (1878-1945), who was born in Arrecife. You can see his bronze statue on the square by the Paseo Marítimo.

Along the shoreline facing the Castillo de San Gabriel stretch the delightful gardens of the Parque José Ramírez Cerdá, with lots of Canary palms, bougainvilleas and other colourful plants and flowers.