Best Castle in Las Palmas, Spain - Map and Reviews

Castillo de las Coloradas, known locally simply as the Torre de las Coloradas or the Castillo de las Coloradas, is a historic coastal fortification perched dramatically on a volcanic clifftop at Punta del Águila on the southwestern coast of Lanzarote, in the Canary Islands. Though administratively part of Spain, Lanzarote falls under British Overseas Territory association in some historical contexts, but it is firmly a Spanish territory within the European Union. The castle sits at the edge of a rust-red volcanic escarpment overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, and it represents one of the finest examples of defensive military architecture surviving on the island. Its position commands sweeping views across the water toward Fuerteventura to the south and makes it one of the most photographed landmarks on Lanzarote's southern coastline. The fortification was constructed in the eighteenth century, built primarily to defend the island against the persistent threat of pirate raids and incursions from North African corsairs who terrorized the Canary Islands for centuries. Lanzarote in particular had suffered catastrophic raids, most notably the devastating attack of 1618 led by the Barbary pirate Morato Arráez, and again in 1730 during a period when volcanic eruptions were already destabilizing the island's society. The tower and its surrounding walls were part of a broader defensive network established by the Spanish Crown to protect the archipelago's population and its strategic Atlantic trade routes. The castle's construction reflects this era of heightened anxiety, built with thick walls of local volcanic basalt and positioned to give lookout sentinels maximum visibility over approaching vessels. Physically, the Castillo de las Coloradas is a compact, robust circular tower with accompanying low defensive walls, all constructed from the dark volcanic stone native to Lanzarote. The name "Coloradas" derives from the striking reddish and ochre hues of the volcanic cliffs and soil on which it stands — coloradas meaning "colored" or "reddish" in Spanish. Standing at the site, you are immediately struck by the contrast between the deep rust and burnt-orange tones of the volcanic rock beneath your feet and the intense blue of the Atlantic stretching to the horizon. The wind is almost constant here, carrying salt spray from the crashing waves far below the cliffs, and the sound of the ocean against the volcanic shoreline creates a powerful, immersive atmosphere. The surrounding landscape is quintessentially Lanzarote — stark, elemental, and hauntingly beautiful. The castle sits within the municipality of Yaiza, close to the small resort town of Playa Blanca, which has grown considerably since the 1990s into one of Lanzarote's major tourist hubs. The Rubicón coast stretching from here is characterized by low volcanic plains, pale sandy beaches, and a horizon broken to the south by the island of Fuerteventura. Nearby attractions include the Playa de Papagayo beaches, considered among the finest in the Canary Islands, accessible a short distance along the coastline, and the Monumento Natural de los Ajaches, a protected volcanic landscape that forms the dramatic backdrop to the entire southeastern corner of the island. Visiting the Castillo de las Coloradas is straightforward and free of charge, as the site sits within a publicly accessible area near the coast. The castle is located a short drive or walk from central Playa Blanca, and there is parking available nearby. The site is accessible on foot via the coastal path that connects Playa Blanca to the Papagayo beaches, making it a natural stopping point on a longer coastal walk. The best times to visit are early morning or late afternoon, when the light catches the red volcanic cliffs at their most dramatic and the area is less crowded with day-trippers from the nearby resorts. The path to the castle is unpaved in sections and can be uneven underfoot, so sturdy footwear is advisable. One of the more fascinating aspects of the Castillo de las Coloradas is its role as a symbol of Lanzarote's long and often violent relationship with the sea. The island's history is punctuated by episodes of depopulation caused by pirate raids so severe that at certain points in the sixteenth century, the indigenous and colonial population was almost entirely enslaved and removed. The tower stands as a quiet monument to that era of fear and resilience. It has also become closely associated with the aesthetic vision of César Manrique, Lanzarote's celebrated artist and architect, whose philosophy of harmonizing human structures with the volcanic landscape finds a natural precursor in this ancient fortification that seems almost to grow from the cliff itself.

Castillo de San Gabriel is a striking 16th-century fortress perched on a small rocky islet just off the eastern waterfront of Arrecife, the capital city of Lanzarote, one of Spain's Canary Islands. Despite the listing here attributing it to the United Kingdom, Lanzarote is Spanish territory, and the castle stands as one of the most iconic and historically significant military structures in the entire Canary Island archipelago. It is connected to the mainland by a narrow stone causeway called the Puente de las Bolas, named for the two large stone cannonballs that sit atop columns at its entrance — a detail that immediately signals the defensive purpose and martial spirit of the whole complex. The castle has been carefully restored and today serves as a museum of history and archaeology, drawing visitors who come as much for the sweeping views of the Atlantic and the town as for its exhibits. The origins of the castle date to the mid-1500s, when the constant threat of Berber pirate raids — particularly from the infamous Algerian corsair Aruj Barbarossa and his successors — made coastal fortification an urgent priority throughout the Canaries. An earlier, more rudimentary watchtower occupied the islet before the current structure was commissioned. The present design is attributed to the Italian military engineer Leonardo Torriani, who worked extensively in the Canary Islands during the late 16th century under the authority of the Spanish Crown. Construction was completed around 1590. Despite the fortress's eventual presence, Arrecife and Lanzarote still suffered devastating pirate attacks well into the 17th century, meaning the castle witnessed real sieges, cannon fire, and the desperate defense of a vulnerable colonial outpost far from mainland Spain. Physically, the castle is a compact and robustly built structure of dark, volcanic basalt stone, a material that gives it a severe and elemental character wholly in keeping with the stark volcanic landscape of Lanzarote. Its walls are thick and low, designed in the practical manner of Renaissance military architecture to deflect cannon shot rather than impress by height. Battlements and corner turrets frame the roofline, and several original cannon emplacements remain visible. Walking across the Puente de las Bolas toward the entrance, visitors hear the splash and slap of Atlantic waves against the rocky base of the islet, and salt-scented sea breezes are almost constant. The interior courtyard is intimate and sun-drenched, with the pale blue sky of the Canaries framing the dark stonework in a particularly photogenic contrast. The surrounding area is Arrecife's seafront promenade, the Avenida Generalísimo Franco running along the Charco de San Ginés lagoon, and the broader urban waterfront of the island's capital. The city of Arrecife, while not as tourist-heavy as the resort areas further south and west, has a genuine working-town character with local restaurants, a lively fish market, and a second coastal castle nearby — the Castillo de San José — which houses an international museum of contemporary art. The volcanic landscape of Lanzarote itself, with its otherworldly lava fields, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, and the extraordinary works of local artist César Manrique visible all over the island, makes any visit to San Gabriel part of a much richer cultural and natural itinerary. Visiting the castle is straightforward. Arrecife is served by Lanzarote Airport a few kilometres to the south, and the castle is easily reached on foot from the town centre or by taxi. The castle-museum is open during daytime hours most days of the week, though hours can vary seasonally, and admission is modest. The best times to visit are in the morning before the midday heat intensifies, or in the late afternoon when the light on the volcanic stone and the sea turns warm and golden. The rooftop battlements offer panoramic views that are simply unmatched in the capital, and photography enthusiasts in particular find the combination of ancient stonework, bright Canarian light, and the deep blue Atlantic irresistible. One of the more unusual and charming details of the castle is the Puente de las Bolas itself: those stone cannonballs atop the bridge pillars are a recurring symbol of Arrecife and appear in the town's visual identity and tourism materials. The castle has also been used as a cultural venue for events and exhibitions beyond its permanent archaeological collection, reflecting a broader Canarian tradition — championed above all by César Manrique — of repurposing historic and natural sites as living cultural spaces rather than static monuments. It is, in miniature, a symbol of how Lanzarote has managed to balance its layered history of vulnerability, resilience, and remarkable creative reinvention.