October 1st: the day of “Los pueblos mas Bonitos de España”
Betancuria is the first town in Fuerteventura that belongs (for some time now) to the “pueblos mas bonito de España”.
What does all this mean?
Today, October 1st, we celebrate the day of the most beautiful towns (pueblos) in Spain and Fuerteventura can also boast among these 111 pearls a pueblo to admire and obviously visit.
The selection
But what does a Spanish towns have to have to become part of this important list of Spanish pueblos?
There are 4 fundamental points:
- The population of the town must be less than 15,000 inhabitants: Currently Betancuria has less than 800 inhabitants so it is well under the limit;
- The town must have a certified architectural or natural heritage: I think almost all of you know the naturalistic heritage of Fuerteventura. The fact that Betancuria was the first capital of the island demonstrates, without a doubt, that much of the history of Fuerteventura, the Canary Islands and, why not, the islands of Spain was born here. If you want to learn more, this is our article on Betancuria.
- Conservation of building facades and controlled vehicular circulation: For this reason I can only recommend a visit, because admiring is better than telling. However, I prefer to put some photos in this article.
- Care of flowers and green areas. Cleaning and maintenance: as above. Betancuria is a gem. Even though I visited it early in the morning when there were very few tourists, I found it clean, tidy and very well looked after.
Betancuria in brief
( Summary of the description from the official website of “Los Pueblos mas Bonitos de España“)
“Betancuria, the first town in Fuerteventura to join the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages in Spain, owes its name to the French conqueror Jean de Bethencourt. One of its architectural attractions is a visit to the island’s first cathedral, the Church of Santa María.
Betancuria offers the traveler to immerse themselves in a walk through its typical rural architecture, characterized by lime walls and wooden balconies. It has many hidden corners that surprise tourists at every step, as well as the essence of the past of its pirate communities. As if that wasn’t enough, it is surrounded by a magnificent volcanic environment, making it one of the most visited places in Fuerteventura.
The gastronomy of Betancuria is typical of the Canary Islands, with traditional stews such as rabbit in salmorejo and goat.
Don’t miss the highlights
Photos
