The El alma de la isla initiative, driven by the Cultural Heritage department of the Cabildo de Fuerteventura, is the culmination of months of work focused on disseminating and strengthening local identity. This plan includes guided tours, heritage encounters, intergenerational activities, and talks during popular festivals. Additionally, a digital portal, patrimoniofuerteventura.com, has been launched, offering access to publications, municipal catalogs, heritage asset records, and reliable documentation, aimed at researchers, teachers, and students.
Regarding Montaña de Tindaya, negotiations are underway with landowners to establish organized access that allows visits under appropriate conservation conditions. This action is part of a clear strategy for conservation, responsible access, and fostering knowledge of the island's heritage. Other sites, such as Morro del Humilladero in Betancuria, already have controlled access for observing podomorphs.
“"Heritage is not just material. In fact, a fundamental part of our identity lies in the memory of those who lived on the island decades ago."
The Cabildo is also focusing on the recovery of intangible heritage, promoting intergenerational activities in educational centers to connect young people with elders. The aim is to document these testimonies through interviews and audiovisual material, creating an archive that preserves Fuerteventura's collective memory and helps build a shared identity on an island with an increasingly diverse population.
Concerning infrastructure conservation, the situation of the hermitage of Puerto Escondido in La Oliva, which suffered an act of vandalism, is being addressed. The La Oliva City Council, as the responsible owner, acted immediately, and the Cabildo collaborated in the intervention. Currently, the City Council is working on a rehabilitation project for the area. Similarly, the Casa de los Coroneles, owned by the Government of Canarias, and the Casa del Inglés, under the responsibility of the Cabildo de Fuerteventura, are mentioned. For the latter, an investment of 600,000 euros has been made for its acquisition and consolidation, and a participatory mediation process has been initiated with the ULPGC to define its future use.
In response to vandalism at archaeological sites, the Cabildo proposes a combination of measures: improving coordination among environmental agents, heritage inspection, and security forces; promoting awareness campaigns; and studying physical protections in specific cases. Technological projects are also being explored through the Technology Park for the control and monitoring of the sites.
Regarding cultural programming, the need for a larger budget is acknowledged, but the optimization of resources to multiply activities and improve their quality is highlighted. There is a commitment to diverse programming, covering different artistic disciplines and reaching the entire island, facilitating access to cultural infrastructures. Free access to mass events like Arena Negra or FEM is defended, arguing that festivals promoted by public administrations aim for social profitability and guarantee the right to culture.
Finally, concerning cultural infrastructures, a significant network exists in Fuerteventura. Although some are undergoing improvement, efforts are being made to revitalize existing spaces, such as the bus station auditorium in Morro Jable, to ensure all localities have access to cultural offerings, given the land limitations for new constructions.
