The exhibition 'The Smoke of Progress. The Correíllo La Palma, its Era and Recovery' opens this Friday, September 11th, at the Juan Ismael Art Center in Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura. The exhibition, which has already toured other spaces in the archipelago, aims to bring Canarian maritime heritage and the history of the 'correíllos' – vessels essential for inter-island communications – closer to the public.
The exhibition project, created by the Canarian Foundation Correíllo La Palma and the Autonomous Body of Museums and Centers of the Cabildo of Tenerife, with the collaboration of State Ports, traces the transformation of the Canary Islands with the development of regular maritime communications and the shift from sailing to steam navigation. The exhibition features unique pieces from the Correíllo La Palma itself, artworks, period objects, and audiovisual resources, recreating the atmosphere of an island port in the early 20th century.
The focus is placed on the heritage value of the vessel and the history of the people involved in its journey, from those who commissioned and built it to those who crewed it and worked on its recovery and conservation. Fuerteventura's relationship with these vessels is particularly significant, with a steamship named after it and the regular presence of 'correíllos' in locations such as Puerto del Rosario and Morro Jable.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a program of parallel activities aimed at delving into Fuerteventura's maritime cultural heritage. It will include encounters such as 'Talking about Correíllos,' to collect memories from the elderly about these vessels, and technical sessions on the restoration of the Correíllo La Palma, addressing the work carried out and the challenges of its conservation.
Talks dedicated to maritime heritage and culture will also be organized, such as 'Adventures of a Steamship Named Fuerteventura' and 'Fuerteventura and the Restoration of the Correíllo La Palma,' in addition to guided tours for educational centers and social groups. The program seeks to bring the history of the 'correíllos' to new generations and highlight their historical and heritage importance.
The exhibition has received two distinctions at the 2025 Canary Design Awards: Gold in Visual Communication – Spaces for designer Lars Petter Amundsen, and Silver in Industrial – Series Productions for Zebenzuí González. The exhibition can be visited at the Juan Ismael Art Center, with opening hours from Monday to Friday from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM and from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. It will be closed on Sundays and public holidays.
