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San Gabriel
Castle (Castillo de San
Gabriel)
This 16th Century fortress overlooking Arrecife Harbour was built to be
the town's main defence - though it was destroyed only a few years after
it was built by the pirate Morato Arraez in 1586. Despite that, it was
rebuilt and used by the military up until the 1950s, when it was
converted into an archaeological museum.
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Timanfaya National Park
This national park contains
some of the most striking volcanic landscapes on Earth, and is a must
for anyone at all interested in nature. Many of the island's major
natural attractions are located within its bounds, and there are plenty
of trails available for those who just want to appreciate the view.
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Jameos del Agua
This massive complex
is an amazing place, containing a natural concert hall (where concerts
are indeed sometimes held), an underground lagoon, a restaurant and a
museum. You can admire the natural spectacle of the cave itself, or have
fun watching cultural displays, dancing in a club or munching on some
local cuisine.
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Cave of Los Verdes
Another famous cave,
this one is particularly spectacular for being the longest volcanic
tunnel in the world. It is part of a complex system created by
underground lava flows, formed by the eruption of Mount Corona some
three thousand years ago. Once a shelter for the native Guanches from
marauding pirates, this cave stretches some 6 km deep into the rock,
including about 2km of it going underwater.
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Mirador del Rio
This lookout point,
which offers splendid views across the Chinijo Archipelago, has long
been a strategic site for the native inhabitants of the island. The
Gaunches one used the point to watch out for pirates and during the 19th
century, a battery was built here to protect the island. Today the point
is popular for its views, and the battery has been turned into a restaurant and Tourist Center.
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The House and Monument to the Farm Labourer (Museum Casa Museo y Monumento
al Campesino)
For visitors interested in
the ancient way of life in the Canaries, this museum documenting the
unique methods the local farmers developed to wrest a living from the
arid environment. There is also a restaurant offering traditional foods
and a gift shop stocked with pottery made by a traditional, and time
consuming hand method.
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