The Insular Inspection of Historical Heritage requests the Haría Town Hall to catalogue the Taro de la Atalaya, a traditional dry stone construction in Charco del Palo, following alerts from residents and ecological groups.
The traditional construction known as Taro de la Atalaya or de las Tabaibas, located in the town of Charco del Palo, could receive official protection if the Haría Town Hall responds to the request from the Lanzarote Council. The insular institution has sent a formal communication for the property to be included in the Municipal Catalogue of Cultural Heritage Assets, as established by Law 11/2019 on Cultural Heritage of the Canary Islands.
Community alert and administrative response
The Council's request originated after several residents, along with the cultural association Pueblo Maho and Ecologistas en Acción de Lanzarote, raised concerns about an urban project authorised on the plot where the taro is located. On June 24, the Historical Heritage Service requested the urban planning file from the council to assess its possible impact on the heritage element.
After analysing the documentation, the Insular Inspection of Historical Heritage concluded that the authorised works —opening a new road and constructing sidewalks— do not physically affect the taro directly. However, the technical report emphasises that the property possesses historical, ethnographic, archaeological, and landscape interest that justifies its future protection through inclusion in the municipal catalogue.
Traditional dry stone architecture
The taro is a representative example of traditional dry stone architecture, a construction technique widely used in Lanzarote to adapt to the island's climatic and agricultural conditions. These buildings have been linked for centuries to agricultural and livestock activities, forming part of the rural landscape and the way of life of farmers and shepherds.
The Council's technicians highlight that the Taro de la Atalaya retains original elements that allow for an understanding of the evolution of vernacular architecture on the island. Its protection, according to the report, not only safeguards a material asset but also a testimony to the social and economic history of Lanzarote.
Next steps and relevance for residents
It is now up to the Haría Town Hall to initiate the procedure to include the taro in its catalogue of heritage assets. The council must process the file and submit it for public information before its final approval. For the residents of Charco del Palo, this cataloguing would provide a guarantee of conservation against future urban interventions in the area.
The final decision could set a precedent for the protection of other similar constructions on the island, many of which are still uncatalogued. Meanwhile, the Council reminds that the regional law assigns municipalities the responsibility to develop and update their catalogues, urging Haría to act swiftly. Interested parties can check the status of the file at the Haría Town Hall or through the municipal transparency portal.
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