The restoration and heritage recovery project at Castillo de Santa Bárbara, in Teguise, has recently been completed. The refurbishment, carried out by Sustratal SL, a company specialising in historic and artistic monuments, has included the creation of viewpoints for visitors and a new lighting system.
In addition to the relevant work on the fortress façade and work on ducting and electrical and plumbing installations inside the castle, more than 33 floodlights have been installed to light the building indirectly and give it a spectacular appearance.
Its present appearance dates from works completed in 1596, after Captain Gaspar de Salcedo added the two bastions that complete the rhomboid plan of the stronghold, and after Leonardo Torriano paid an official visit to the site and proposed a number of improvements. During the 19th century this old fortress was left completely abandoned and used as a military dovecote until 1899. In 1991 it became a moving museum devoted to Canarian emigration to the Americas, until the Museo de la Piratería (Piracy Museum) was planned.