The San Joaquin Castle, also known as Castillo de San Joaquín, stands abandoned in La Cuesta, on the road connecting Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristóbal de La Laguna. Construction began in 1780 to defend the interior of the island should the coastal defenses fall. However, the site has a history dating back to 1586, when Governor D. Juan Núñez de la Fuente ordered the construction of several platforms designed by the Italian Leonardo Torriani, which were subsequently abandoned.
The current building is square with circular towers at each corner and a central courtyard with bays on two sides. Two of the towers were used to store gunpowder. While the outside of the structure has remained constant, the inside has been frequently modified to suit various uses, ranging from a military prison to an ammunitions dump to a dovecote. It was also home to the Cuerpo de Colombofilia Militar Español.
In 1996, the castle was sold to a private individual and is currently abandoned. It was recorded by the Spanish Ministry of National Education on 22 April 1949, and was declared of cultural interest on 15 February 2000.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Mutabor
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