Castle of Casa Mata

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria · Category: Architecture · Subcategory: Military architecture · Year: 1612

This turret at the end of the wall was round in shape, until it was knocked down by the Dutch in 1599. It was rebuilt by Captain D. Francisco de la Rúa, as Governor, as a memory to the slaughter the invading armies suffered in this place, hence the name Castle of Casa Mata, meaning killing place.

Referring to it, Fr. José de Sosa said it was extremely sturdy, although short in statue as at the time it was a stumpy structure in two or three parts, which did the most damage to the Dutch by blocking them from entering by the city walls, running along the outer wall face shielding the gate and entrance with their fires, adding further fortification to this castle in its position at the foot of an imposing hill, which if taken by the enemy, would expose its platform; so being covered in this way, it had the capacity for two or three pieces to move freely to guard the wall, which was the main reason for its construction.

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