Castillo de San Gabriel
A sixteenth century fortress on the islet that closes the bay of Arrecife, the first defensive building on Lanzarote, from 1587, when pirate and corsair raids made a stronghold necessary. Reached on foot from the seafront over the Puente de las Bolas, a drawbridge topped by two stone spheres and now the city's image. From the walls and roof terrace the view runs along the waterfront, the harbour and the Charco de San Ginés. Inside is the Museo de la Historia de Arrecife.
Castillo de San Gabriel sits on a small islet linked to the shore of Arrecife, at the point where the bay is sheltered by the reefs that gave the city its name. It was the first fortification on Lanzarote, going back to 1587, built after repeated raids by pirates and corsairs showed that the island needed a permanent defence at its natural harbour. The result is a compact square building of volcanic stone with a moat and corner turrets, designed to hold out rather than to impress.
Access is on foot from the promenade across the Puente de las Bolas, a drawbridge crowned by two stone spheres that works both as the symbol of Arrecife and as the most photographed frame in town. From the enclosure and the roof terrace the view takes in the seafront, the port and the entrance to the Charco de San Ginés. Inside, the Museo de la Historia de Arrecife covers how the city grew and how it lived off the sea. The walk out from the centre is short and flat, so the castle fits easily into a stroll around the old quarter.
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