The municipal party Primero Teguise has denounced the state of neglect of Santa Bárbara Castle, which has remained empty for over a year and a half, with electrical problems and a petrol generator.
Santa Bárbara Castle, a Cultural Heritage Site and the main heritage landmark of Teguise, is in a state of abandonment that has led Primero Teguise (PTG) to publicly denounce its condition. The municipal formation has visited the site and confirmed that the building is completely empty, without the promised History Museum, and that its electricity supply relies on a petrol generator that has been running continuously for a year and a half.
“More than a year after the Teguise Town Hall announced its reopening and transformation into the future History Museum, the reality that anyone approaching the castle finds today is far from that promise: a completely empty building, problems with the electrical installations, a petrol generator, safety deficiencies, and evident exterior deterioration,” they state in a statement.
The spokesperson for PTG, Jonás Álvarez, lamented that “the only visible transformation is that we have gone from having a museum to having an empty building powered by a petrol engine.” The party recalls that in February 2025, the Town Hall announced that the castle would leave behind the old Museum of Piracy to become the History Museum of Teguise, but that transformation never materialised.
“Many visitors climb up to Guanapay expecting to see the Museum of Piracy and all they find are empty walls. The only remnant of the old museum is the road sign. Inside, there are no pirates, no history, no content,” criticises Álvarez.
The petrol generator, installed next to the building, produces a loud noise that disrupts the experience for visitors. Furthermore, there are visible wiring and electrical connections, as well as several junction boxes without protective covers in various areas of the castle, especially at the top of the site. “This generator has been running for a year and a half. Plenty of time for electrical planning and to have a proper installation,” adds Álvarez.
The exterior deterioration is also evident. The facades show numerous inscriptions made by visitors scratching the surface with stones, marks that have been visible for years without any restoration work being carried out. “It feels like historical heritage is only a concern on the day the reopening photo is taken. After that, silence, neglect, and improvisation return,” denounces the spokesperson.
PTG also expresses concern over the occasional closures of the castle without prior notice due to organisational or staffing issues, which harms both residents and visitors. The party insists that the solution lies in a comprehensive recovery of the monument, which includes a safe electrical supply, elimination of risks, restoration of facades, a real museum project, and stable opening hours.
“Absolutely everything in our municipality needs management, investment, and respect. Our monuments tell the story of who we were. What is concerning is that today Santa Bárbara Castle is also telling how we are managing our heritage,” concludes Álvarez.
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