Betancuria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Betancuria
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Municipality
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Municipal location in Fuerteventura
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 Betancuria
Location in Province of Las Palmas
Betancuria
Location in Canary Islands
Betancuria
Location in Spain, Canary Islands
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| Country | Spain | ||
| Autonomous Community | Canary Islands | ||
| Province | Las Palmas | ||
| Island | Fuerteventura | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 103.64 km2 (40.02 sq mi) | ||
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 731 | ||
| • Density | 7.053/km2 (18.268/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | UTC±00:00 (WET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+01:00 (WEST) | ||
Betancuria is a small town and a municipality located on the western side of Fuerteventura island. This island is part of the Canary Islands in Spain. In 2013, about 811 people lived here. The area of Betancuria is about 103.64 square kilometers.
The town is in a hilly area. It is about 4 kilometers west of Antigua. It is also about 21 kilometers southwest of Puerto del Rosario, which is the capital of Fuerteventura. Betancuria is the smallest municipality in Fuerteventura by population. It is also the smallest in all of the Canary Islands.
Contents
History of Betancuria
Betancuria was founded in 1404 by Jean de Béthencourt and Gadifer de La Salle. The town is named after Jean de Béthencourt. It was once a very important place.
Early Capital City
Betancuria was the first capital of the Kingdom of the Canary Islands. Later, it became the capital of just Fuerteventura island. This made it a key center for the island for many years.
A Brief Bishopric
For a short time, Betancuria was home to a special church area called a bishopric. In 1424, Pope Martin V created the Bishopric of Fuerteventura. This bishopric included all the Canary Islands except Lanzarote. The main church for this bishopric was the Parish of Santa María de Betancuria. However, this bishopric only lasted for seven years. It was ended in 1431.
Pirate Attack and New Capital
In 1593, pirates attacked and destroyed much of Betancuria. Despite this, it remained the capital of Fuerteventura. It kept this role until 1834. After that, Antigua became the new capital.
Important Places to See
In a nearby area called Vega de Rio Palmas, you can find the hermitage of the Virgen de la Peña. This hermitage is a special chapel. The Virgen de la Peña is the patron saint of Fuerteventura island.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Betancuria para niños
