Casillas del Ángel marks 100 years since joining Puerto del Rosario and awaits a museum dedicated to its history

Casillas del Ángel continues to mark the centenary of its incorporation into Puerto de Cabras with the unveiling of a plaque at the former Town Hall. The ceremony recognised those who made the merger of the two municipalities possible in September 1926.

After unveiling the commemorative plaque, the mayor of Fuerteventura’s capital, David de Vera, stressed the importance of remembering the people behind that decision, which ushered in a new administrative and territorial chapter.

The mayor said the plaque was “a tribute to all those men and women who, through their effort and hard work, as well as their political flexibility and dialogue, reached various agreements to shape today’s Puerto del Rosario”.

De Vera also recalled the difficulties faced by previous generations and the “efforts, hardships and sacrifices” that contributed to the municipality’s development.

He said the commemoration offered an opportunity to recognise the role played by the former municipality of Casillas del Ángel in the history of the capital. The programme has also included holding the September council meeting in the village.

The Centenary Market is providing a day of community activities, including a re-enactment of the historic event with the help of the theatre group linked to the Culture Department. The group has staged a traditional play, “100 años: Días de peso contrastado”.

There will also be music from the La Sebada and Muelle Nuevo folk groups, followed by a concert by Taller Canario.

The former Town Hall will become a museum

At the event, Ángel Montañez, representing the Casillas del Ángel residents’ association, thanked the Town Council for helping to commemorate the village’s history, particularly by restoring the former Town Hall, which currently houses the library, as a future museum.

Culture councillor Juan Manuel Verdugo confirmed that the project was well advanced and funding was in place for the first works.

“We already have a budget allocation for renovating the room,” he said, adding that the electrical installation and flooring would need to be upgraded.

He expects the work could be carried out over the next two or three months, with the museum space completed afterwards and potentially opening to the public between March and April 2027.

The aim is to recreate the former Town Hall, where council meetings were held, municipal records were kept, and the mayor and secretary shared an office. Verdugo recalled that the council at the time comprised seven councillors and the mayor.

He said restoring this heritage was important because “today’s Puerto del Rosario, modern Puerto del Rosario, cannot be understood without the incorporation of areas such as Casillas del Ángel”.

Residents want to bring the story to every village

Ángel Montañez, representing Casillas del Ángel’s residents, said the incorporation into Puerto de Cabras was a process that “was not without controversy and a degree of conflict”.

Montañez noted that Casillas del Ángel had been a municipality with significant agricultural activity, producing cereals and barrilla, and had its own small harbour at Los Molinos.

The union brought together commercial interests around the port of Puerto de Cabras, particularly in an economy heavily affected by rainfall and harvests.

He therefore gave a positive assessment of the hundred years since the former municipality joined Puerto de Cabras.

“The assessment, 100 years on, is good so far,” he said, pointing to improvements in public services and provision. “I think there is a significant quality of life for residents in Casillas and in all the villages that belonged to the municipality,” he concluded.