Castillo de San Jose

This fortress, located in the municipality of Arrecife, was built in the 18th century.
In the period from 1776 to 1779 a fortress was built under the advocacy of San José, popularly called "La Fortaleza del Hambre". At this time the island was living in great misery. Thirst, hunger, and disease dropped their mantle over the exhausted population. In addition, there were continuous periods of drought, the eruption of the Timanfaya, an affected social and political organization.

Carlos III was the one who ordered the construction of the fortress of which Don Claudio de Lisle would be the architect. The fortress stands on a 70-meter cliff from where the main entrance to the port of Naos is perfectly dominated. Currently under the hand of Cesar Manrique, this Castle has become the International Museum of Contemporary Art, where there is also a restaurant.

The International Museum of Contemporary Art MIAC was established in 1975 with the aim of “promoting, gathering and exhibiting the most significant works of modern artistic creation”.