A Cultural Overview of Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura offers you the perfect opportunity to experience a fun-filled vacation, whether you’re looking to rent a car to tour the island or enjoy the wealth of luxury accommodation. With three thousand hours of bright sunshine throughout the year, Fuerteventura is the second largest island in the Canaries, and visited by millions every year, it is set to be one of the top places to holiday in 2014. The island is officially owned by the Spanish government, and the name itself translates as ‘Corruption of Forte Aventure’ (or Great Adventure), because of the strong winds that dominate the coastline.

In 2009, UNESCO declared Fuerteventura as a biosphere reserve, and the tranquil environment, stunning surroundings and rich cultural diversity of the island attracts nature lovers and solitary travellers from all over the world. Although most of the island is covered by rocks, dormant volcanoes, stones and sands, Fuerteventura offers many awe-inspiring beaches and stunning green spots, and shares similar weather conditions as Mexico and Florida. If you’re thinking of visiting this wonderful island in the near future, find the best deals on flights to Fuerteventura online!

People and Culture

This diverse island country is inhabited by approximately 80,000 natives from the Canary Archipelago (also known as Guanches or Majereros). Migrants from over 30 different countries - most of whom come from Africa, Rome, Asia, Spain and other neighbouring nations - have settled down in Fuerteventura for a serene and peaceful lifestyle. Roman Catholic churches dominate religious practices, and English, Guanche (Afro-Asiatic language), Spanish and Silbo are widely understood languages of this region.

Architecture

Fuerteventura boasts a glorious cultural heritage, with more than 60 historical attractions scattered all over the land. Some towns and cities, like Romeria de la Virgen in Betancuria, date back to the fifteenth century, and the architecture of these quaint historical structures offers a deep knowledge of the islands’ former inhabitants. When it comes to architecture, Fuerteventura houses 4 diverse types of structure - archaeological relics, religious structures, commercial buildings and residential houses, so there’s plenty to keep your historical interest.

Religious edifices were constructed by villagers of the 17th - 18th century, but due to a lack of architectural supplies, these simple Spanish buildings are exhibited in approximately 20 chapels and 12 churches on the island. Important buildings like Caleta de Fuste and Tarajalejo order El Portillo, hold deep religious sentiments for the natives. Other structures like tenrias, mills, lime kilns, tahonas and salines (Salina del Carmen) hold cultural, agricultural and commercial importance.

Handicrafts

Handicrafts of Fuerteventura include potteries, ceramics, basketries, stitchery, woodwork, stonemasonries, tallas en maderas and tejidos. In the month of May, local natives as well as neighbours from surrounding islands, visit the traditional markets to sell off their handicrafts, so why not experience the markets at Ecomuseo de la Acogida in Puerto del Rosario when visiting the island.

Gastronomy

Delicious Spanish cum Mediterranean cuisine of the Canary Islands features diverse colours, textures, flavours and aromas. Local cuisine is characterised by sea food, goat cheese, vegetables, lentils and agricultural products, and the major dishes include Gofio (toasted maize flour and wheat buns), Mojo Canario (Canary dips with coriander, chillies and parika) and Papas arrugadas (potato wedges garnished with salts and herbs). If you’re a real foodie, then delicacies consist of parrotfish, moraine, jewfish, sama, cherne, mussel, red mullet, cabrilla, lapas and burgados!


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