The salty air whispers secrets of a bygone era. Before you stands the Molina de Corralejo a testament to Fuerteventura’s rich past. This isn’t just any windmill. This is a Bien de Interés Cultural a monument steeped in history.
Picture this humble structure. It once stood tall amidst a landscape far different from the bustling resort town surrounding it today. The Molina de Corralejo was once the heart of Corralejo’s lifeblood. Its sails turned tirelessly grinding gofio the island’s staple food. The wind was crucial. No wind meant no gofio long queues and anxious faces.
The Molina de Corralejo stands as a symbol of the island’s resilience. It weathered storms both literal and figurative. It witnessed the evolution of Corralejo from a small fishing village to the popular tourist destination it is today. The first settlers of Corralejo arrived from Lanzarote Galicia or even Portugal. Their names such as Carballo Estévez Hierro de León Umpiérrez or Figueroa are now woven into the fabric of Corralejo’s story. Many intermingled. There were only about 11 surnames in the entire town before the 1950s.
The old town chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel a simple building erected in 1925 also played its part. Fishermen contributed to its construction a true testament to community spirit. It was sadly replaced by a modern church in the 1980s. This old windmill however persevered.
The Molina de Corralejo is more than just a historical landmark. It’s a symbol of the people who built Corralejo a living reminder of their hard work and resilience. It survived the hardships of a simpler time and now stands as a silent observer of the modern era. So as you stand here take a moment. Absorb the history breathe in the salty air and appreciate the enduring legacy of the Molina de Corralejo. It is a story of wind of gofio and of the spirit of Fuerteventura.