Castle of St John the Baptist facts for kids
The Castle of St John the Baptist (Spanish: Castillo de San Juan Bautista), also called the Black Castle (Castillo Negro), is an old fort on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands of Spain. It was the second most important fort for protecting Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the island's capital city.
You can find it in the middle of the capital, close to the Parque Marítimo César Manrique and behind the Auditorio de Tenerife. Building the fort started in 1641 and finished in 1644. It was later rebuilt in 1765, and a round tower facing the sea was added. The castle was used as a military fort until 1924. In 1948, it became a military museum.
The Castle's Important Role
In 1684, Charles II of Spain, who was the king, gave the power to choose the castle's warden, or "castilian," to the Cabildo de Tenerife. This is the island's main governing group. Being a castilian for this castle, and also for the Castle of San Cristóbal, was a great honor for noble families on the island.
It was important for two main reasons:
- It helped them prove their noble status, which was useful for joining special groups like the military.
- The position came with many special rights. The castilian was in charge of things like health in the area and port police. They also gave permission for ships to enter and leave. They even collected fees for fishing and helped solve arguments between fishermen and townspeople. Plus, they handled mail and collected taxes on salt and flour.
Remembering History
Every year, a special event takes place at the fort. It's a re-enactment of the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This event remembers when the British admiral Horatio Nelson tried to invade the city and the islands on July 25, 1797, but he was not successful.
