Castillo de las Coloradas

Castillo de las Coloradas is a small, round watchtower perched on the rocky headland of Punta del Águila, right next to Playa Blanca in the municipality of Yaiza, at the southern tip of Lanzarote. From its walls you look straight across El Río strait toward Fuerteventura — controlling that narrow sea passage was precisely why the tower was built in the first place.

When was the tower built, and why?

Construction ran from 1741 to 1742, ordered by the island's authorities as part of a wider effort to shore up coastal defenses against corsair raids. The fort was designed by a military engineer working under the Captain General of the Canary Islands at the time. Builders used quarried local stone, hewn steps, lime produced on the island, and "tea" — the dense heartwood of the Canary pine long favored for construction on the archipelago.

What was the tower actually used for?

Castillo de las Coloradas functioned as a lookout post and a modest defensive redoubt. Its garrison kept watch over the strait and sounded the alarm whenever corsair ships approached, since raiders regularly plagued southern Lanzarote through the 18th century. A drawbridge gave access to the interior, which held soldiers' quarters, a storeroom, a small cell, and two cisterns for collecting rainwater — essential on a stretch of coast with no natural freshwater source.

What happened to it in 1749?

On 12 August 1749, Algerian corsairs stormed the tower and badly damaged it, with fire destroying part of the structure. The building was subsequently repaired and reinforced in 1769, giving it roughly the shape it retains today.

Why does the tower appear on Yaiza's coat of arms?

Castillo de las Coloradas ranks among the most recognizable historic landmarks in the municipality, which is why its silhouette was adopted for Yaiza's coat of arms. For locals it stands for more than an old stone tower — it's a physical reminder of an era when fending off pirate attacks was a daily concern along this coast.

What does the area around it look like today?

The tower now sits right beside the Playa Blanca seafront promenade, one of Lanzarote's main tourist resorts. The rocky point it occupies is one of the better vantage spots along this stretch of coast, opening onto views of the open Atlantic, the strait, and the outline of Fuerteventura in the distance. It's a favorite spot for an evening walk, and noticeably quieter than the busy beaches nearby during high season.

Is it worth stepping inside?

The tower is compact, and its interior — the old dormitory, storeroom, and cell — gives a fair sense of how spartan life was for the soldiers stationed here in the 18th century. Even a brief visit is enough to picture what coastal watch duty looked like when unwelcome ships from across the strait were a real and recurring threat.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Castillo de las Coloradas? On the rocky headland of Punta del Águila, along the Playa Blanca promenade, in the municipality of Yaiza in southern Lanzarote.

When was it built? Construction took place between 1741 and 1742; after suffering damage in 1749, it was rebuilt in 1769.

Why was this fort built here? To defend the coast and warn the people of Yaiza of corsair attacks, particularly from Algerian raiders active in the area during the 18th century.

Can visitors go inside? Yes — it stands on open, publicly accessible coastline and is a popular stop for anyone strolling through Playa Blanca.

What is its connection to Yaiza's coat of arms? The tower is such a defining part of local history that its image was incorporated into the municipal coat of arms of Yaiza.