Tucked away in the ancient hills of Adeje, Casa Fuerte towers over the vast plains and the rough terrain of Tenerife’s south. The small, yet impressive fort will draw you in and tell you stories of a time long gone.
If you decide to visit Casa Fuerte, you will be greeted with warm hospitality and a passion for authentic experiences. Rita and her family inherited Casa Fuerte in 2014 – they took a leap of faith by deciding to uproot their life in London to restore and manage Casa Fuerte full time. Rita, her mother, and her husband transformed the abandoned landmark into a piece of history, ready to fully immerse its visitors in tales from another century.
A place bursting at the seams with tales to tell
Casa Fuerte’s story dates back centuries and its complex history is truly at the center of Tenerife’s cultures and heritage. The earliest records place Casa Fuerte in the middle of the 16th century. The landmark was the last sugar mill on the island, as the waters of the Barranco del Infierno created a water abundance for this particular region.
By 1555 Casa Fuerte became the political, economic, and social center of Adeje for three centuries. The fortified residence consisted of a castle and a keep, warehouses, barns, a stable, a blacksmith shop, a bakery, ovens, housing for servants and administrators, an oratory, and a palace.
Later, Casa Fuerte served as a tomato packing plant, which secured the place of Casa Fuerte as the economic driving force in the south of Tenerife. Today, Casa Fuerte opens its doors to give you a glimpse into the past.
Casa Fuerte is trailblazing the way for authentic cultural heritage. Rita’s passion for the past can be felt every step of the way – she is doing a fantastic job at transporting visitors back into the old days.
From using the original tiles to rebuild the massive walls to rummaging through keepsakes of old relatives to establish a timeline – the restoring process is all about genuineness. Transformation is lived through and through at Casa Fuerte. The ancient prison, later used as a petrol station and ultimately abandoned as a garbage dump, is now home to a lavish flower garden overlooking the Adeje town. Butterflies and bees buzz between the reminder of the past – bringing life to a time long forgotten.
Casa Fuerte’s dedication does not stop within its walls. Rita and her husband created pop art-style souvenirs inspired by real labels from the tomato packing plant. Visitors can take home the Casa Fuerte spirit in the form of a t-shirt or tea towels.
Casa Fuerte is truly a journey into the past within the concrete jungle of Tenerife’s touristic south.
