Castle of the King or San Francisco

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

This was built at the request of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria Island Government in 1595, following the attack by Francis Drake in October of the same year. The site for it was chosen having seen what great defence the Risco (or cliff) of San Francisco offered, after the attack. It took several decades to finish it, and by 1625 it was still awaiting final touches. In 1898, by Royal Decree, it was agreed that it should be demolished, but not until another similar fortification had been built in the same area, ultimately meaning that it was never actually demolished at all. It was used as a military prison up to the end of last century. 

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