Hospitalito de La Ampuyenta
Hospitalito de La Ampuyenta: A Medical Legacy in Fuerteventura
The Hospitalito de La Ampuyenta, officially called Hospital de Caridad de San Conrado y San Gaspar, is a historic building located on the right side of the FV-20 road, which connects Casillas del Ángel with Antigua, Fuerteventura.
History and Construction
This hospital was part of the legacy of Doctor Tomás Mena y Mesa, a physician and surgeon born in La Ampuyenta in 1802. After an outstanding international career, Dr. Mena returned to his homeland with the intention of improving health conditions on the island. At his death in 1868, he left an inheritance of 25,000 pesetas for the construction of a hospital in his hometown. However, due to the negligence of his heirs and executors, the works did not begin until 1901, extending for more than three decades. Despite sufficient funding, the hospital never became operational due to various problems and lack of political interest.
Architecture
The building consists of three pavilions connected to the central core by corridors, an architectural innovation for the time on the island. It has gable roofs covered with flat tiles and dark stonework on the corners, distinctive characteristics of the local architecture.
Subsequent Uses and Restoration
In 1931, the building was used as a coeducational school and later passed into the hands of the church, which used it as a religious retreat house. In 2011, the Cabildo of Fuerteventura began its rehabilitation, culminating in 2014. Since 2015, a part of the little hospital is enabled as the Interpretation Center of the Hermitages of Fuerteventura, hosting temporary exhibitions related to the religious and cultural heritage of the island.
Visit
The Hospitalito de La Ampuyenta is part of the Cultural Heritage Complex of La Ampuyenta, which also includes the House of Doctor Mena and the House of Fray Andresito. Visitors can immerse themselves in the medical and cultural history of Fuerteventura, exploring these emblematic buildings that reflect the dedication and legacy of prominent figures of the island.
The Hospitalito de La Ampuyenta is a testimony of Doctor Mena’s commitment to the health and welfare of his community, and a sample of the historical and architectural heritage of Fuerteventura.
