Castillo de la Luz (Fundación Martín Chirino)
A 1494 fortress on La Isleta in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the oldest in the Canary Islands and since 2014 the home of the Fundación de Arte y Pensamiento Martín Chirino. One of the capital's best-loved historic landmarks.
In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the Castillo de la Luz is the oldest defensive fortress in the Canary Islands. It was built in 1494 on the isthmus of La Isleta to protect the domains of the Crown of Castile from Dutch and English pirate attacks. It was declared a Historic Artistic Monument in 1941 and since 2014 it has been the home of the Fundación de Arte y Pensamiento Martín Chirino. It is one of the capital's most recognisable monuments.
Inside, the building's history and archaeology sit alongside the work of the Gran Canarian sculptor Martín Chirino. During the restoration, in which the architecture studio Nieto-Sobejano turned the castle into an art space, parts of the original structure came to light after five centuries hidden from view. The visit combines the restored defensive architecture with exhibition rooms, while the surrounding harbour area invites a stroll with Atlantic views. The Museo de la Ciudad y del Mar is not in this castle but in another building, the Castillo de Mata.
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