Midlist Writer: Military History Photo Friday: El Castillo de San José in Lanzarote, Canary Islands

Friday 7 July 2017

Military History Photo Friday: El Castillo de San José in Lanzarote, Canary Islands

As I mentioned on Monday, I was on vacation in Lanzarote all last week. Even though I wasn't writing, I was keeping my eye out for interesting blog post material. This week on Black Gate I blogged about the island's Piracy Museum, and next week will see another Lanzarote post as well.

And here's something for this blog, a fort called El Castillo de San José, which guarded the approach to the port of Arrecife. It was built between 1776 and 1779. The whole island is dotted with forts to protect the various harbors from pirates and rival powers such as the British.

A combination double-header outhouse and gun turret. The soldiers were apparently not shy, or just lonely.

This particular fort was actually built in a time of relative peace as a make-work project for the islanders, who were going through tough economic times thanks to a drought and a volcanic eruption that ruined the crops. Thus it earned the name Fortaleza del Hambre (Hunger Fortress).

It now houses a contemporary art museum and a cool restaurant/bar that retains its 1970s decor.

The restaurant gives a fine view of the fishing port.

The original Seventies interior is intact.

Even the stairs to the bathroom are groovy!

2 comments:

Sioux Roslawski said...: When it comes to your 2nd photo: I guess if a man had something ready to "shoot out" of their digestive system, this stone un-porta-potty would be the perfect place...; 7 July 2017 at 07:44
Alex J. Cavanaugh said...: 16th century fort, meet the 70's!
I'm sure the building of it kept the islanders from starving or going broke.; 7 July 2017 at 08:57

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