History of Caleta de Famara
A journey from the ancient Aboriginal settlements to the modern-day Caleta: water, fishing, devotion, summer holidays and a community deeply connected to the landscape.
A history written between the cliffs and the Atlantic
Caleta de Famara, located in north-west Lanzarote, is a place where the blue Atlantic meets the cliffs that watch over it. But beyond its landscape, Famara preserves a history stretching from Aboriginal times to the present day.
Its past runs through some of the major threads of the island’s history: one of Lanzarote’s ancient Aboriginal settlements, the presence of the Franciscans, the creation of an early hermitage dedicated to the Virgin Mary and, above all, the decisive importance of water in a territory defined by its scarcity.
Through its watering places and the traditions of its people, Famara did not merely witness the history of Lanzarote. It also helped shape the island’s cultural, economic and community identity.
This journey brings together the curiosities and episodes linked to the Caleta, from its earliest inhabitants to its transformation into a place for fishing, summer holidays and gathering.
14 historical curiosities about Caleta de Famara
A quick way to explore the episodes, places and connections that help explain Famara’s historical development.
- Aboriginal originsFamara was one of Lanzarote’s important Aboriginal settlements, with pottery remains providing evidence of its ancient occupation.
- Cradle of Marian devotion in the Canary IslandsIn 1413 the Franciscans established in Famara what is described as the first hermitage in the Canary Islands dedicated to the Virgin Mary: the Hermitage of Las Mercedes.
- Famagui and waterThe term “Famagui”, associated with maretas or rainwater reservoirs, is a reminder of how profoundly water shaped life in the area.
- A shared heritageDespite giving up the Famara estate, Sancho de Herrera left the springs as a communal resource for the people of Lanzarote.
- The washerwomen of SooThe washerwomen used the basins at the Poceta de Famara and played an especially important role during periods of drought.
- A strategic water sourceDuring periods of drought, the Poceta de Famara drew people from different parts of Lanzarote.
- The Famara–Soo connectionThe 1610 will of Luis de Samarines is cited as evidence of the historical relationship between Famara and Soo.
- The Huerta de FamaraIt was a pilgrimage destination where branches were gathered to decorate the church and the streets of Teguise during important celebrations.
- Wells and springsFor centuries, Famara’s waters were an essential resource for survival on an island where fresh water was limited.
- The first summer visitorsFrom the 19th century onwards, families began arriving and using the Caleta as a place for rest and recreation.
- Natural harbourBy the 19th century, the Caleta was already regarded as a natural harbour linked to fishing and maritime transport.
- César Manrique and the diving platformCésar Manrique’s family contributed to the construction of Famara’s well-known diving platform, which over time became a local symbol.
- Relationship with La GraciosaThe Caleta has maintained a special relationship with La Graciosa, especially visible around the festivities of Our Lady of Sorrows.
- Adaptation and resilienceFamara’s history reflects its people’s ability to adapt to environmental and social difficulties without losing their connection to the land around them.
A summary of the history of Caleta de Famara
From the earliest settlements to the community of today, several moments help explain how the identity of the Caleta took shape.
From the Aboriginal settlement to the Hermitage of Las Mercedes
The story begins with the Aboriginal people, who established one of their important settlements in Famara, as shown by the archaeological pottery finds cited in the page documentation.
In the 15th century, with the arrival of conquerors and Franciscan religious communities in Lanzarote, Famara took on a new role in the Christianisation of the island.
The Franciscans settled near the village and founded what the account identifies as the first hermitage in the Canary Islands dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the Hermitage of Las Mercedes. Famara thus also became part of the archipelago’s religious and cultural network.
The reservoirs and springs that sustained life
Famara’s historical importance was deeply linked to water, one of Lanzarote’s scarcest and most valuable resources.
The maretas, or rainwater reservoirs, known as the Fuentes de la Poceta or Fuentes de Famara, became a precious resource. The account links this resource to the decision of Sancho de Herrera to promote a monastery in the 16th century and guarantee communal access to the springs.
The washerwomen of Soo, the wells and the watering places are all part of this memory. During droughts, Famara became an essential destination for people coming from other parts of the island.
Water appears time and again in Famara’s history not as a detail of the landscape, but as a condition of community life.
From fishing community to summer retreat
Over the centuries, Famara and Soo maintained a close relationship, sustained by social and economic exchanges between the two areas.
The construction of homes and storehouses by fishermen and the arrival of the first summering families in the 19th century gradually transformed the Caleta into a place for gathering and rest without erasing its character as a working community.
The Caleta was also regarded as a natural harbour linked to fishing and maritime traffic. During the 20th century, further changes came to roads, supplies and infrastructure.
The construction of the Hermitage of the Sacred Heart of Mary forms part of this period of community growth and adaptation.
Tradition, memory and connection to the sea
The history of Caleta de Famara is also the history of its people. Generation after generation, the community has preserved its customs and a very direct relationship with the natural environment.
That continuity can be seen in the festivities, the historical relationship with Soo and La Graciosa, maritime activity and the collective memory that still accompanies many places in the Caleta.
Ultimately, Famara’s historical story is about adaptation and respect for nature: the ability to thrive in a demanding territory while preserving a cultural legacy for future generations.
Its history therefore acts as a small mirror of Lanzarote’s own story: its difficulties, limited resources and the way its people built community around them.
Documentary “History of Caleta de Famara”
A documentary full of images and stories from Caleta de Famara, offering a deeper look at its culture and heritage.
Discover the Famara that is still alive today
The history is better understood by exploring its places, traditions and the ways people live in the Caleta today.
