Church of Santa María in Betancuria (Fuerteventura, Canary Islands)

Betancuria

Fuerteventura

The former capital of Fuerteventura, Betancuria has a historic centre presided over by its church-cathedral.

Founded at the beginning of the 15th century by the Frenchman Juan de Bethencourt, Betancuria remained the capital of the island of Fuerteventura until 1834. This allowed the city to become the political, administrative and religious centre of the entire island since its inception.The Santa María de Betancuria church-cathedral is the most important building in this city. Initially built in the Norman-Gothic style, the temple was rebuilt in the 17th century and retains certain elements of its original construction, such as the bell tower and some sections of the columns. Inside, the choir, the baptistery, the Baroque altarpiece and a rich Mudéjar coffered ceiling are noteworthy.

Other buildings of interest are the San Diego hermitage and the conventual church, which was part of the first Franciscan convent in the Canary Islands. It is also worth visiting the Sacred Art Museum and the Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum, both containing interesting collections of great historical value.One of the most important festivals is the Romería de la Peña pilgrimage in honor of Nuestra Señora de la Peña [Our Lady of the Rock], the patron saint of the island. It's held on the third Saturday of September and is a beautiful display of folklore and popular island traditions.

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What to visit


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Don’t miss it

What to visit


Select from the list or hover over the map to find out about points of interest.

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