Betancuria: Old Town, Sacred Art and Landscape

In the centre of Betancuria’s historic old town stands the Church of Santa María de Betancuria. Following its reconstruction, the present-day church combines Gothic, Mudéjar, Renaissance and Baroque elements; at the same time, it is protected as a cultural asset of special interest in the monument category.

Culture and History

The old town of Betancuria was recognised as a heritage site in 1979 and offers guided tours of its numerous religious buildings. The Museum of Sacred Art displays paintings, sculptures, vestments and goldsmiths’ work that are representative of the island’s sacred art.

The Archaeological Museum of Betancuria has two exhibition halls: one is dedicated to the material culture of the indigenous inhabitants, while the other focuses on their spiritual world. The exhibitions complement the churches and historic buildings by providing another perspective on the town’s cultural development.

The monastery church of San Buenaventura preserves its walls, while only the foundations of the monastery remain. The Franciscan Monastery of San Buenaventura represents the first monastic mission to exist in the Canary Islands. A chapel stands on the site of the cave where Fray Diego de Alcalá prayed; it features Gothic and Renaissance elements.

The festival in honour of San Buenaventura is celebrated in Betancuria on 14 July. Cultural focal points can be viewed as different approaches: sacred art, archaeology, monastic history, architectural forms and local traditions each represent distinct facets of the town.

Nature

91.2% of the municipality of Betancuria is occupied by the protected Parque Rural de Betancuria, which is protected for its geomorphological and ethnographic values. The Las Peñitas viewpoint in the municipality of Betancuria offers views of a green oasis and a small lake lined with native plants.

Hiking

The Antigua–Degollada de Marrubio–Betancuria hiking trail leads into the Betancuria massif; from the summit, it offers views of the hilly landscape and the central plain of Fuerteventura. The Betancuria Trail begins in Betancuria and, after an ascent and a mountain crossing, descends to the Embalse de las Peñitas reservoir.

The two routes through Betancuria have different focal points: the Antigua–Degollada de Marrubio–Betancuria route connects the massif with views of the central plain, while the Betancuria Trail ends at the Embalse de las Peñitas reservoir. This makes it possible to distinguish the landscape views and the water destination based on the routes described.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Betancuria, travel dates, room category and cancellation policies may constitute different criteria for personal selection. They structure the questions around the period, type of accommodation and flexibility.

The Virtual Tourism Office of Betancuria provides town maps, visitor guides for the surrounding area, promotional videos and 360-degree views. The four formats offer different ways of accessing Betancuria: town maps and visitor guides help with spatial orientation, while promotional videos and 360-degree views show the town from visual perspectives.

Other places: Antigua, Cardón, Majanicho, Valle De Santa Inés, Tindaya, Ajuy, Tuineje, Pájara

To the higher-level travel overview: Fuerteventura.