Doctor Mena House Museum
The Doctor Mena House Museum, also known as Casa de los Alfaro, is located in the village of La Ampuyenta, in the municipality of Puerto del Rosario, about 15 kilometers from the capital of the island. Located on the left side of the FV-20 road, which connects Casillas del Angel with Antigua, and opposite the well-known Hospitalito de La Ampuyenta, this historic house is one of the most unique heritage spaces in the interior of Fuerteventura.
Doctor Mena, a key figure in the island’s history
In this house resided Tomás Antonio de San Pedro Mena Mesa, popularly known as Doctor Mena, born in La Ampuyenta in 1802, in the bosom of a very humble family without economic resources. He was baptized a few weeks after his birth in the parish of Santa Ana de Casillas del Ángel, beginning a life trajectory marked by personal effort and a vocation for service.
When he was barely 20 years old, Pedro Mena left Fuerteventura after resigning from a philosophy professorship and went to Cuba, where he trained as a physician, specializing in surgery and tropical diseases. His professional prestige also took him to France, where he furthered his studies and consolidated a solid scientific reputation. Despite his international success, at the age of 45 he decided to leave everything and return permanently to Fuerteventura, accompanied by his mulatto servant, to take care of his mother, widowed for the second time and still living in La Ampuyenta.
Back on the island, Dr. Mena practiced medicine altruistically, serving the needy without charging for their services. His social and human commitment made him a deeply respected and loved figure throughout Fuerteventura.
The house and its transformation into a museum
The house, dating from the eighteenth century, responds to the traditional Canarian architecture of the wealthy rural houses. It has been restored to house the Doctor Mena House Museum, allowing visitors to delve into the daily and professional life of one of the most illustrious figures in the history of Majorca.
In its interior are preserved:
- Original furniture made of fine woods.
- Surgical instruments of the time, testimony of the medical practice of the 19th century.
- Personal objects and documentation related to his life and professional career.
Although a large part of his library was destroyed, the exhibition allows us to understand the cultural, scientific and human level of Doctor Mena, as well as the comforts of his residence.
An enduring legacy
One of the most relevant gestures of his legacy was the donation of 25,000 pesetas for the construction of a hospital in La Ampuyenta, today known as the Hospitalito de La Ampuyenta, which is part of the same heritage complex. This gesture reinforces the philanthropic dimension of Doctor Mena and his commitment to improving living conditions on the island.
A living cultural space
The Doctor Mena House Museum is part of the Cultural Heritage Complex of La Ampuyenta, along with the House of Fray Andresito and the Hospitalito, offering a unique journey through the medical, social and religious history of Fuerteventura. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions and cultural activities related to the island’s history, helping to keep alive the collective memory.
A must-see
Visiting the House Museum Doctor Mena is a journey into the past to meet a man ahead of his time, whose vocation, knowledge and humanity left an indelible mark on Fuerteventura. A space that invites you to reflect on the value of social commitment, science at the service of people and the importance of preserving the historical memory of the island.
