Fataga
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fataga is a village in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana on the island of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain). Latitude 27• 53’ 15” north, longitude 15• 33’ 50” west. Altitude approx 1980 feet (600 meters) above mean sea level.
The village can trace its' origins back for more than 2000 years, when the area of the current village was inhabited by the Guanche natives.
The village became known as Adfatagad in the 16th century, around the time when the struggle for control of the Canary Islands between the Guanches and the Spanish was taking place. Many of the battles in the final stages of this conflict took place in and around the Barranco de Fataga.
By the end of the 19th century, Fataga had some 650 inhabitants, dedicated to the farming of cereals, vegetables and fruits, as well as cattle. At that time it was a self-sufficient farming community, owing its prosperity to the water source known as "El Cercado de Fataga" (The Orchard of Fataga) or "Fuente Grande" (Great Spring).
Fataga is a characteristic village in the island. Old narrow lanes made out of stones and famous historic Canarian houses. The village is part of the list of World Heritage Sites. The village is in the Barranco de Fataga, known as the "valley of the thousand palms" with brown rocks and small shades of green.
The villagers constructed their church dedicated to St. José in the year of 1880. In the period up to the present day new farms and houses have been built often growing fruits such as oranges, lemons, apricots and grapes, however the population of the village has now dropped to around 400.
Fataga is more than a very popular day-trip destination for holidaymakers staying in the coastal regions of Gran Canaria.
Fataga has a small school, two restaurants, tourist areas, a bakery, and a mill. The art gallery, which had been turned into an art restaurant, has unfortunately closed.
