The history of the Castillo de Mata

The Castillo de Mata, also known as the Castillo de Casa Mata or the cuartel de Alonso Alvarado, is situated in the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The first Castillo de la Mata was built by engineer Juan Alonso Rubián in 1577, originally starting as a round tower at the end of the city wall. After being damaged by the Dutch fleet in 1599, it was rebuilt by Francisco de la Rúa and took on its current name because its function was to guard the city wall in the form of a casemate.

Fray José de Sosa described the structure as a small but very strong castle, equipped with artillery to defend the wall. By 1780, the parapets, embrasures, and powder magazines were reconstructed to provide defense for infantry. The fortress served as accommodation for the Spanish army's artillery corps until 1976, when it was handed over to the Spanish Legion. It remained a base for the Tercio "Don Juan de Austria" until 1997.

Today, the site houses a site museum that opened on March 18, 2015. Developed by art historian Ángeles Alemán, the museum explores two main themes: the history and archaeology of the castle, and the history of the city in relation to the sea. The castle also serves as the traditional location for the official welcome reception for the Virgin of the Pine when she travels to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria from Teror.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons