Town of La Ampuyenta
La Ampuyenta: history, landscape and tradition in the interior of Fuerteventura.
La Ampuyenta is one of the villages with more historical and cultural load of the municipality of Puerto del Rosario. Located just over 15 kilometers from the capital of Fuerteventura, in a strategic position between Puerto del Rosario and Antigua, this rural town offers visitors a deep insight into the agricultural, livestock and religious past of Fuerteventura, in a quiet environment and great scenic value.
The origin of La Ampuyenta is linked to the expansion of the vega stripes during the seventeenth century, when the agricultural exploitation of the interior of the island prompted the creation of new settlements. Although today it belongs to the municipality of Puerto del Rosario, from the 19th century until the first quarter of the 20th century it was part of the extinct municipality of Casillas del Ángel. In 1926, after the aggregation of this municipality to Puerto Cabras, La Ampuyenta, together with Tefía, Tesjuate and Llanos de la Concepción, became administratively dependent on the current island capital.
One of the great values of La Ampuyenta is its remarkable historical and religious heritage. Stresses the Ermita de San Pedro de Alcántara, a temple of the seventeenth century that preserves an extraordinary wooden coffered ceiling and baroque mural paintings, considered among the most valuable of Fuerteventura. This building stands as a spiritual and social axis of the people for centuries.
The town is also closely linked to historical figures of great relevance. Fray Andresito was born here, a Franciscan friar revered in Chile for his social and evangelizing work, whose birthplace is preserved as a place of memory. Another key figure is Doctor Mena, a physician who was much loved on the island for his commitment to the underprivileged, whose traditional home houses documents and objects related to his life. In addition to this group is the well-known Hospitalito de La Ampuyenta, a building from the early twentieth century that never functioned as a hospital, but today is part of the historical legacy of the town.
From the natural point of view, La Ampuyenta sits on the margins of a wide and fertile valley, protected to the west by the Betancuria massif and to the east by the mountainous complex of Montaña del Campo and other lower elevations. This enclave has historically favored agricultural and livestock activity, despite the harsh climatic conditions of the island. The higher proportion of clay soils has allowed for better moisture retention, increasing the agricultural potential of the area.
The water wealth of La Ampuyenta was already known in pre-Hispanic times. The ancient Mahos moved their goats to these lands to water and graze, and important archaeological remains are preserved from this intense activity. In Montaña de la Rosa and Degollada de la Culata there are circular and semicircular structures, aboriginal burials and cave engravings. Other remains, such as natural caves with archaeological materials, disappeared under the present road, without being adequately studied.
For nature lovers and bird watching, a walk to the Morro del Castillejo allows you to see an excellent sample of the steppe birdlife of Fuerteventura, with species such as the houbara bustard, the sandgrouse, the stone curlew, the marsh terrier or the common kestrel, in addition to enjoying sweeping views over the valley and the interior landscape of the island.
Traditions are still very much alive in La Ampuyenta. The festivities in honor of San Pedro de Alcántara, held in October, include a pilgrimage and popular events, while every January religious celebrations dedicated to Fray Andresito are organized, attracting devotees from all over the island.
Visiting La Ampuyenta is to enter one of the most authentic enclaves of the interior of Fuerteventura, where history, heritage, archeology and landscape combine to offer a serene experience deeply linked to the identity of Fuerteventura.
