Hornos de cal de la Guirra

Hornos de cal de la Guirra is a group of historic lime kilns in the municipality of Antigua on Fuerteventura, located in the area known as Caleta de La Guirra, between the Marismas wetlands and Caleta de la Hondura, close to the beach and harbour of Caleta de Fuste. The site sits at the mouth of the Barranco de Miraflor ravine, which originates at the foot of Morro de la Casa (357 m) and Montaña Blanca de Arriba (231 m).

What exactly is on site?

The ensemble consists of three lime kilns, a storage building and a small dwelling that once housed the lime workers, together with a water cistern. The structure has three loading openings, the result of the complex being built up in stages: two openings face southwest, while the third and oldest one faces north. This layout shows how the site was expanded gradually as production needs grew.

Why were lime kilns built here?

Lime production was, for centuries, one of the main industries on Fuerteventura. The earliest records of limestone extraction on the island date back to the 16th century — in 1560 the local Cabildo already ordered the purchase of limestone brought from Fuerteventura. Lime kilns operated on the island from the 16th century until the second third of the 20th century, an industry spanning almost five hundred years that generated considerable wealth for Fuerteventura. Thousands of tonnes of lime left the island's ports bound for the other Canary Islands, making Fuerteventura the archipelago's main lime exporter and, at times, a supplier to mainland Spain as well.

How was the lime actually produced?

Lime was obtained by burning limestone (known locally as caliche) inside a kiln with a distinctive truncated cone shape, narrower at the top, where an opening allowed fuel to be loaded. Stone and fuel — most commonly British anthracite, though mainland Spanish coal or even local wood was used in times of scarcity — were stacked in alternating layers until the cone was completely full. The stone was fired at a temperature of roughly 800°C for 24 to 48 hours, after which the lime had to cool for a further two or three days before it could be transported. A typical Fuerteventura kiln did not exceed eight metres in height or four metres in width.

What protection status does the site have?

Hornos de cal de la Guirra was declared a Historical Monument under Decree 78/1999 of 6 May 1999, granting it the status of a cultural heritage asset in the Monument category. This recognition reflects the site's value as a record of the traditional lime industry that shaped the island's economy and landscape for centuries.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly are the Hornos de cal de la Guirra located? In the municipality of Antigua on Fuerteventura, in the Caleta de La Guirra area, near the beach and harbour of Caleta de Fuste, at the mouth of the Barranco de Miraflor ravine.

How many kilns make up the site? Three lime kilns, together with a storage building, a workers' dwelling and a cistern.

How long did the lime industry operate on Fuerteventura? From the 16th century (first records from 1560) until the second third of the 20th century — almost five centuries.

Is the site legally protected? Yes, it has held the status of Historical Monument (Monument category) since 1999, under Decree 78/1999.