No. 33 - Its Gran Canaria Magazine

32
GET TO KNOW GRAN CANARIA I CONOCE GRAN CANARIA EDICIÓN 33
Castillo del Romeral,
a historical journey along the east of the island
By Mathias Valles
The history of Castillo del Romeral is closely related
to the salt plains. There is documentation indicating
that the first ones were built in 1537, with the
establishment of the first settlements. Over the
centuries, the number of salt plains increased due
to the demand for salt, mainly for the preservation
of fish, reaching its peak in the mid-19th century.
During this period, they became the most numerous
and important in the Canary Islands in terms of
surface area and production.
Due to the relentless attacks by pirates and corsairs,
and for the purpose of protecting the salt
plains, in 1677 King Charles 2nd of Spain authorised
the construction of a fortress, known as the castle
or stronghold of Santa Cruz del Romeral. Work began
in 1681, and this defensive structure would give
its name to the village it is today. With regard to
the place name ‘Romeral’, one of the most widely
accepted options among historians is the association
with the abundant presence of a highly valued
aromatic and medicinal plant that thrives in the region,
namely romero, or rosemary.
This fortress underwent significant refurbishment
in the 18th century, after which it was able to house
up to 300 to 400 men. The services offered by
this castle played a crucial role in the defence of
the island, as well as in the protection of the salt
industry and the coastal and fishing boats. The
fishermen, often harassed by corsairs, found refuge
under the formidable artillery that the fortress
possessed at the time. With the disappearance
of corsairs and pirates in 19th century Europe, the
fortress no longer fulfilled its original function. In
addition, with the advent of cold storage, the salt
plains lost their profitability and were abandoned.
So much so that today there is almost no physical
evidence of either the salt plains or the Casa Fuerte
del Romeral.
Nowadays, Castillo del Romeral is a remarkably
different place than it was back then. This picturesque
coastal village, located in the southeast of
Gran Canaria, stands as an idyllic spot for spending
a day at the beach and playing sports, offering all
the necessary amenities. Although, due to its location,
it tends to experience the strong winds characteristic
of the southeast of the island, on days
with moderate winds it becomes, without a doubt,
an almost obligatory stop. Here, visitors can enjoy
fresh fish at one of the wide range of specialised
restaurants and take a refreshing dip in the crystal
clear waters.
El Castillo del Romeral has several pebble beaches,
with impressive natural rock pools that are on a par
with their more famous counterparts in the north
of Gran Canaria. This makes it the perfect choice
for those looking for this type of bathing in a nearby
location or for those who prefer less crowded
places.
The recently renovated promenade, which is over
500 metres long, is a visual jewel. Surrounded
by palm trees, landscaped areas, children's playgrounds
and outdoor exercise points, it offers rest
areas and sports areas ideal for playing football and
basketball. All this is complemented by the colourful
beachfront houses, whose façades have been
painstakingly restored.
Along the seafront promenade of Castillo del
Romeral, we come to the two large natural pools
mentioned above: a small one, 100 metres long,
and a second one 230 metres long. Both are adapted
with ramps to ensure safe bathing and are
protected by concrete barriers that act as breakwaters,
providing a pleasant bathing experience.
This environment is ideal for a fun day out with the
youngest members of the family.
For the more adventurous, I would like to share a
great recommendation: in the vicinity of Castillo
del Romeral, you will find the imposing Amurga
massif. However, our route is not intended to take
us into the gorge, but rather to explore the fascinating
geological attraction that gives this region
of the island its character. At an altitude of 315 metres
above sea level stands El Arco del Coronadero,
the largest natural stone arch or bridge in Gran Canaria,
which is actually made up of two formations,
the Arco Menor and the Arco Mayor. These formations
have been shaped, as has the surrounding
environment, by the effects of erosion caused by
lava flows.
The walk to this geological landmark takes approximately
two hours, starting from the picturesque
natural rock pools of Castillo del Romeral. Despite
the absence of signposts along the route, we follow
a coastal dirt path that leads to the old salt store.
From this point, we continue towards the Juan
Grande crushing plant from the large roundabout
that we will come to following a tarmac road and,
after passing through an entrance with a barrier,
the path crosses a tunnel that goes under the motorway.
Afterwards, a dirt track will guide us up the
ascent along the Barranco Hondo. Although it is
only of medium difficulty, we must remember to
wear suitable footwear for this activity.
So as we can see, Castillo del Romeral is not only a
beach destination; it offers a diverse cultural experience
that brings together history, sport and the
relaxed essence of the southeast of Gran Canaria,
providing visitors with a different and captivating
vision of a destination less frequented by tourists.