Castillo de San Gabriel

Castillo de San Gabriel is a historic fortress occupying a small island off Arrecife's coast in Lanzarote, connected to the mainland by two causeways including the distinctive Puente de las Bolas drawbridge topped with cannonballs. Originally built as a wooden fortress in the 16th century, it was rebuilt in stone as an important defensive post for the harbor after being destroyed by Amazigh pirates. Named a National Historic Monument in 1972, the castle now houses an ethnographic museum displaying approximately 3,000 objects, including primitive utensils, ceramics, dioramas, and historical documents illustrating Lanzarote's cultural evolution. The fortress features thick stone walls dividing compact museum rooms and a rooftop terrace offering panoramic views of Arrecife and the Atlantic Ocean.