The History and culture of Fuerteventura - Welcome to our World

Fuerteventura, 1658km2; is the second largest island of the Canarian Archipelago with a population, last recorded from the Spanish National Statistics on 1st January 2004 as being 79,986 inhabitants. However a large proportion is believed to be foreign residents and Spanish residents from the peninsular and the indigenous population of Canarians is small in comparison.

Fuerteventura, 100km long, and 31km wide, when viewed from satellite is shaped like the back of a sitting cat. It is believed to be the oldest of the Canary Islands forming some 20 million years ago from volcanic activity on the seabed. Conical structures formed from the geological emissions through vents in the earth’s surface spewed forth from the a range of mountains in the Atlantic Ocean called the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and formed clusters of islands (archipelagos).

The earliest inhabitants are thought to be the Gaunches (no longer a distinct race) who first settled in Tenerife, and were a primitive people of mainly cave dwelling farmers deriving from the Berber race of North Africa, one of the oldest civilisations known to man. Archaeological discoveries from Gaunche strongholds suggest a culture quite closely associated to that of the Egyptians. The Gaunches embalmed their dead, and some of the mummies since discovered have been identified as having been blond or red haired, indicating influences from the Nordic or Celtic races.

History records stories of expeditions to the Canary Islands as early as 25BC by King Juba II of Mauritania. His men found no trace of human life, but did encounter ferocious dogs and so the islands were named Canis (Latin for dog).

A number of invasions were recorded from 1291AD by the Geonoese, Portuguese and later the Majorcans who all enslaved and suppressed the Gaunches but they did not fall fully under Spanish rule until 1402 when Jean de Béthencourt, a Norman/French explorer conquered Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Hierro. He became the King of the Canary Islands, but conceded overall rule to King Henry III of Castile, due to the funding provided by Spain to support the expedition and the island then converted to Catholicism. The town of Betencouria, which was hailed as the old capital of Fuerteventura, is named after Béthencourt.

The culture of the island is deeply steeped in farming, craftwork and to a much lesser extent fishing, although today the tourist industry is becoming the primary export business with numbers of tourists growing steadily over the past 10 years.

Fuerteventura is the ideal location, whether you are looking for a holiday home, a place to retire or simply a worthwhile investment. With over 3000 years a year of sunshine and an average monthly rainfall of only 2.1mm during the summer season. Temperatures rarely fall below 18ºc in winter and constant prevailing north-easterly winds keep humidity at a low during summer months. (link to weather chart) People are friendly and helpful, the crime rate is low and the scenery, with it’s dominant volcanic mountains and 152 stunning beaches, is simply overwhelming.

So climb aboard the Interealty property bus, sit back and relax and let us take you on the journey of a lifetime to explore the wonderful island of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands in search of your very own dream home in the sun.