Beyond the Beaches of Gran Canaria: Tufia - Archaeology Magazine Archive


Tufia	"Beyond the Beaches of Gran Canaria" October 29, 1999

The village of Tufia was a fortified center built on a small hill overlooking the sea. This would have been a strategic point. Such coastal settlements are very common on the island. In addition to living atop the hill, the inhabitants used caves in the coastal cliffs.

Tufia consists of different types of buildings made with dry stone. The walls were built without mortar like in El Agujero. The houses' entrances are to the west, probably to avoid harsh sea breezes. Houses are concentrated in two groups, with ruined walls and a large building thought to be a meeting place for the villagers. Outside the fallen walls of Tufia, there are three circular burial mounds.

Left: Remains of stone houses looking out to the sea

There are also small houses by the sea with good views of the ocean and islands in the distance that may have been used as lookout posts. There is a legend of a Canarian leader, Dormas, whose wife was kidnapped and taken to an island visible from the shore. It is said that he came to Tufia every night and swam to see her. Such islands may have been used as prisons at some point, but this story is probably just a legend.

Right: Lookout house with island in the distance

Cuatro Puertas Back to Map More on Tufia