The town of Tuineje in Fuerteventura

Tuineje is also known for having been the site of a battle against English privateers in 1740; the shield of the city shows the mountain Tamasite and the effigy of a camel used in this battle and the weapons of the belligerents, guns for the British, fighting sticks for Majoreros.

Near the town center are lined several volcanic cones and extensive lava fields: the Malpaís Grande (Great Maleterre) and Malpaís de la Pierna.

Inwards, to the north, there are the foothills of the Massif of Betancuria, corresponding to the island base. A small area of the Rural Park Betancuria is part of the municipality of Tuineje.

To the east and south of the town, a series of valleys perpendicular to the coast, separated by headlands or edges, which may tend to form cliffs on the coast. The highest of these cliffs are on the side of the east, where there is the Lighthouse Entallada. Some beaches are scattered along the coast at the mouth of the valleys best known are those of Gran Tarajal to Giniginámar of Tarajalejo.

North, Tuineje borders the town of Antigua, a straight line from Morro Jorjado to the Punta del Cháfiro on the coast. The short section from the Morro Jorjado and summit of Gran Montaña (708 meters), forms the border with the municipality of Betancuria. While to the west, the border Pájara begins at Gran Montaña, following a series of hills and ridges, and the ravine of Tisajorey to its mouth.

By its position Tuineje is an important node of road traffic Fuerteventura: at a junction located within the city road FV-20, from Puerto del Rosario (35 km) and Antigua, leads towards Gran Tarajal and towards the main road FV-2, while the FV-30 road leads to Pájara and Betancuria in the mountainous west.

Furthermore we note the Moorish character of the style and arrangement of some houses; this is due to the influence of Moorish slaves who settled in the region. These houses were also distinguished by the absence of white in a camouflage goal during pirate raids. Many of these traditional houses are now abandoned.

In 1764 the congregation decided to build a larger church, but construction did not begin until 1782 and was completed in 1790. The new church has two naves - equal in size - and a campanile. On this date Tuineje became an independent parish from that of Betancuria.

Inside the two naves are separated by Tuscan columns connected by arches. Nightstands are separated from the nave by arches, larger and pointed, based on a powerful central pillar. The choir is in the apse of the nave of the Epistle (right aisle).

A mural in two panels at the bottom of the altarpiece represents the battle of the Montaña de Tamacite which opposed the inhabitants to English privateers in 1740. The fortified church played a role in this battle and the English - before retiring - tore off an arm of the statue of St. Michael the Archangel. Tradition has it that St. Michael helped the Majoreros to win the battle of Tamacite.

The Iglesia de San Miguel Arcángel is located on the Paseo de la Libertad; most of the time, it is closed.

Festival San Miguel and the Battle of Tamasite on 13 October.

In the village, a small modern church, Our Lady of Carmel (Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen), almost merges with the houses. In the background of the village was initially built a vacation housing complex for Austrian holidaymakers. It is now mainly occupied by Island residents working in the resorts of the peninsula Jandía.

Inland, the access road FV-525, 4 km long, was the wide valley Río de Giniginámar where sheep and goats are seeking their livelihoods in arid mountain slopes.

Natural Monument of Cuchillos de Vigán is one of the last bastions of endangered species such as the Canary Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus majorensis), named locally guirre, osprey (Pandion haliaetus) and the Barbary falcon (Falco pelegrinoides). There is also an endemic plant of the Canaries, the (Crambe sventenii). The highest mountain, Mount Vigán, rises to 463 m. On the rocks of the mountains Vigán are etched representations of extinct animals endemic to the region.

A first incursion corsairs took place on 12 and 13 October 1740. English - 53 in number - landed on October 12 at dusk in the bay of what is now Gran Tarajal, and on October 13, advanced towards Tuineje probably with the intention take the capital Betancuria. They passed the English plundered the fields and houses, and pillaged the church of Tuineje, tearing off an arm of the statue of St. Michael the Archangel, adding sacrilege to barbarism.

The military governor of Fuerteventura, Colonel José Sánchez Umpiérrez, gathered a small band of 37 armed peasants only five firearms and Canarian fighting sticks; the Majoreros used a herd of dromedaries as a living shield; English fired a first salvo on camels and before they could reload their muskets, the Canarian attacked, killed 23 British prisoners and made most of the other; only a small number of English privateers could join their ship. Two guns were taken from the English; they still adorn the entrance to the Ethnographic Museum of the island Betancuria.

But the danger was not removed by this first victory: November 24, an English troupe landed again in Gran Tarajal. But this time, the Majoreros were prepared when the English came to Tuineje. Not far from the city, at Llano Florido, local militia attacked the English privateers, which were completely destroyed.

Madrid, January 10, 1741

With letters from Puerto de Santa Cruz in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, after the fourth day, we heard from two landings made ​​by the English in Fuerteventura, one of the islands on 21 October an English corvette arrived in the dark to Puerto de Tarajalejo. 50 armed men went to Tuineje, where they were looting, imprisoned two families and entered the hermitage of San Miguel. At midnight, Lt. Col. José Sanchez Umpiérrez, military governor of the island, which incidentally was staying at his country house that night, was informed of the news. As it was a mile of this place, he mounted a horse with four parents and others, a total of 33 men, and went to meet their enemies. He began to negotiate with the return of the booty and prisoners, in order to let slip the time so that more people can get. The English accepted an agreement, and set the battle order on high ground. Given this, the governor began 40 camels as a trench to prevent the first barrage of enemies without giving them time for a second, he attacked them with such courage that after a bout of hour, ours managed to defeat them completely, only with spears, pointed sticks, spears and five firearms. 30 of them were killed and 20 others were taken prisoner; 5 of our men died and 16 were injured out of danger. This happy event was due to the great effort of Lieutenant Colonel, who killed more than 10 English with his pike, including one who ran away to sea in losing blood from the hermitage said. The trophy for this fight was 150 rifles, 50 rifles with bayonets, 50 swords, a drum, a flag, a trumpet and two grenades, which were distributed in accordance with an order of the Captain General of these islands, between those who participated in the action. The 24th day of the same month, another British sloop, without news of the previous, landed in the same port. 55 armed men also went to the place and the aforementioned chapel, but said Lieutenant Colonel, Captain Melchor de Llerena, Captain Soto and other officers with several men attacked them with such courage that they do not let a life, losing only five of our men, captain Soto being among them. They took the enemy, this time, 55 rifles with bayonets, 55 pairs of pistols, 55 swords, a drum, a flag and a trumpet, shared among the winners.

The print shops of La Gaceta.

Livestock farming is still important, especially for goat meat production and the production of cheese. This wine is housed, but also freedom, as a complement to agricultural activity, especially along the coast.

Fishing remains important in Gran Tarajal, but is now almost reduced to inshore fishing.

Tourism is mainly located in Gran Tarajal to Las Playitas at Giniginámar and Tarajalejo, with some tourist urbanisations.

Hours at: www.tiadhe.com/rutas/01.htm

Line # 16 connects Puerto del Rosario in Gran Tarajal, via Tuineje and Antigua, four times a day.

Hours at: www.tiadhe.com/rutas/16.htm

Line # 18 connects Pájara to Gran Tarajal, via Tuineje, two to four times a day.

Hours at: www.tiadhe.com/rutas/18.htm

Price: 50 € per night.

Phone: 00 34 928 164 991; mobile phone: 00 34 605 606 135

Site on the Web: www.casatamasite.com