10 Best things to do in Teguise - Former capital of Lanzarote

Published on May 16, 2022
LanzaroteThings to do in Lanzarote
Teguise lanzarote
Teguise is the former capital of Lanzarote (before Arrecife)

Teguise is considered the oldest town in the Canary Islands, dating back to the XVIIIth century. La Villa de Teguise as it is locally known, used to be the capital of Lanzarote for over 450 years, up until 1852 when Arrecife became the new capital city.

Although it is situated inland, at around 10 km from the shore, the town was often under attack from the pirates and many violent massacres have taken place on its streets.

Don't mistake the village of Teguise for the resort of Costa Teguise!

Especially if you're a first-time visitor to Lanzarote, you may have heard about the popular called Costa Teguise, located in the municipality of Teguise.

While Costa Teguise is a coastal resort, with beaches and lots of hotels, bars and restaurants, the village of Teguise, although located in the same municipality, is located inland and the distance between Teguise and Costa Teguise is around 15 km. 

Things to do and see in Teguise

Teguise is a really quiet place in Lanzarote, where you can discover the true spirit of the island. There are several buildings and places that you should visit and explore if you want to get to know more about the history of Lanzarote and its old capital.

Walking through the narrow streets of Teguise you see plenty of old architecture and buildings of great historic importance, like the ones mentioned on our list below.

1. Teguise Market

teguise market lanzarote
Don't miss Teguise market in Lanzarote

Nowadays most tourists come to Teguise only on Sundays, when the famous market takes over the entire town. Teguise Market is the largest market in Lanzarote and thousands of people from all over the island come here for a souvenir bargain or even knock off watches and bags.

2. Museum of Sacred Art in San Francisco Monastery (Museo de Arte Sacro in Convento San Francisco)

The construction of this building began in 1588 and it has a part dedicated to the church of Nuestra Senora de Miraflores. Today the building houses the Museum of Sacred Art in Teguise and visitors can see objects pertaining to the Modern Age in Lanzarote.

3. Doctor Alfonso Spinola Monument

This statue was donated to the town of Teguise in 1963 by the Society of Canary Islands in Montevideo.

4. Casa del Medico in Plaza de Francisco

In July 1854 was inaugurated the Doctor's House in Teguise, a building where the local doctor lived and also had a few rooms dedicated to medical purposes and patient care.

5. Casa Francisco Torres

  • Calle Leon y Castillo, 10

An old building with typical architecture for its time.

6. Palacio del Marques - Casa Herrera y Rojas

  • Herrera y Rojas, 7

This is the oldest building still standing in Lanzarote, completed in the year 1455. It is considered that the Herrera y Rojas family s responsible for making the town of Teguise an important social and cultural center in the Canary Islands.

7. The Church of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe

  • Plaza de la Constitucion

The main church in Teguise, in the central square of the town, was built in the XV century. It was devastated by a fire in 1909 and was reconstructed by 1914 with money donated by the residents.

8. Spinola Palace / Palacio Spinola

  • Jose de Betancort, 9

Several generations of the Spino family have lived in this house: the sculptor Francisco Spinola, painters Francisca and Maria Rosa Spinola and writer Dominga Spinola. The building was restored in 1970 with the help of Cesar Manrique.

9. Teguise windmill (Molino de viento de Teguise)

The windmill in the neighborhood of Los Molinos de La Villa already has been the subject of restoration work recently, as one of the most important heritage treasures in Teguise. The windmill was used in the production of gofio and there is historical evidence regarding its existence since the beginning of the 20th century.

10. Castillo Santa Barbara

Castillo Santa Barbara was build in the first half of the XVI century, making it one of the oldest military constructions in Lanzarote. It keeps guarding the town from the top of Mount Guanapay, an old and extinct volcano.

The building passed in the possession of Ayuntamiento de Teguise in the year 1913. Since the year 1991, it is functioning as a Museum of Emigration.

There are even more buildings just like these in Teguise, so the town deserves a few hours of exploration during the weekdays, when most tourists don't bother to stop here. From Teguise it is easy to go explore in other direction like Caleta de Famara, Haria or Costa Teguise.

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