Discover La Ampuyenta

If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to La Ampuyenta, its historic buildings and rural cultural landscape can provide a thematic focus for your stay. The Ermita de San Pedro de Alcántara, the Casa de Fray Andresito and the Hospitalito de La Ampuyenta represent different facets of the area: religious heritage, traditional architecture and history. The Gavias also draw attention to the rural surroundings. These themes can help you plan your stay according to your own interests and the available visiting opportunities.

The Ermita and Casa: architectural history and religious heritage

The Ermita de San Pedro de Alcántara was founded on 14 August 1681 and is protected as a Site of Cultural Interest (Bien de Interés Cultural, BIC). The single-nave chapel has a gabled roof; the presbytery is set apart from the rest of the building in both height and width. A high external wall topped with battlements is known as a barbacana. The pulpit is a wooden structure made in the 18th century, finished in polychrome and gilding. It features twelve panels of the Apostles and inscriptions from the Creed. The Ermita therefore offers specific architectural and artistic themes, from its external form to its religious imagery.

The Casa de Fray Andresito is protected as a Historic Site of Cultural Interest. Following restoration work, it retains two rooms with features of the island’s traditional architecture. Today, the Casa serves as a small, simple place of pilgrimage; explanatory panels and images focus on the life and legacy of Fray Andresito. While the Ermita’s architecture and pulpit take centre stage, the Casa combines historic architecture with the memory of this figure. Local access arrangements may change, so check access details before your visit.

The Hospitalito and a walk around the village

The Hospitalito de La Ampuyenta consists of three interconnected pavilions and was considered an architectural innovation. It is located within the protected surroundings of the historic monument of the Ermita de San Pedro de Alcántara. Since 2015, part of the Hospitalito has housed the Centro de Interpretación de las Ermitas de Fuerteventura. This exhibition space is dedicated to the island’s religious heritage and includes temporary exhibitions as well as educational content. Before your trip, check whether a visit to the exhibition is currently possible.

The Complejo Cultural Patrimonial de La Ampuyenta offers a short walking route through the village, the rural surroundings and the historic buildings. This makes it possible to consider local history and landscape as distinct themes for a stay. As operating arrangements may change, check visitor information before setting out.

Gavias and the rural cultural landscape

The Gavias of La Ampuyenta are visible around the village and form part of a historic cultural landscape adapted to dryland farming. They add a landscape perspective to the historic buildings: the focus here is not on a single structure but on the agricultural surroundings. Those interested in the history of rural land use will find a different focus here from that of the religious and architectural sites.

Festivals and cultural events

The patron saint’s festival of San Pedro Alcántara takes place on 19 October in Ampuyenta. For details of the programme, it is advisable to check the schedule for that year’s edition. The “Andrés Valerón” cheese and wine tasting is a notable event among the January celebrations in honour of Fray Andresito. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check the annual programme in advance.

Literature is also one of the area’s cultural themes: the “Doctor Mena” literature and short story competition held its third edition on 16 January at the Complejo Patrimonial y Cultural de La Ampuyenta. Alongside the festivals and tasting, this event offers a different kind of activity from visiting historic buildings. These themes therefore differ both in their connection to the area and in when they take place.

Discover more destinations: Tesejerague, Tefía, Majanicho, Betancuria, Tindaya, Ajuy, Llanos De La Concepción, La Oliva

For the main travel overview: Fuerteventura.