Castillo de Santa Catalina

Santa Cruz de la Palma


At the northern end of the seafront, the Castillo de Santa Catalina was one of several forts built in the 17th century to fend off pirate raids. Named after a hermitage nearby that was dedicated to Santa Catalina, it was the main castle in a series of defences protecting the city.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Santa Cruz de la Palma attractions

2. Museo Naval

0.1 MILES

Gaze north across leafy Plaza de la Alameda and you may think Christopher Columbus’ ship, the Santa María, became stranded here. This is actually the city…

3. Museo Insular

0.11 MILES

This excellent museum is housed in a former 16th-century monastery with diverse exhibits ranging from Guanche skulls to cupboards of sad stuffed birds,…

4. Ermita de San José

0.14 MILES

A simple whitewashed 17th-century chapel that gives the name to the street on which it stands.

5. Castillo de la Virgen

0.17 MILES

This modest 17th-century castle is more like a simple fortress that was built as a defence against piracy. The castle looks out over lovely views of the…

6. Iglesia de la Encarnación

0.21 MILES

This lovely church dates to around the 15th century and was the first to be built in Santa Cruz after the Spanish conquest. One way to reach it is to…

7. Playa de Santa Cruz de La Palma

0.22 MILES

With boardwalks to protect your feet from the scorching sand, this superb, huge and very deep black-sand beach is quite a sight, stretching along much of…

8. Iglesia del Salvador

0.35 MILES

The interior of this magnificent church boasts a glittering baroque pulpit dating back to 1750 and a stunningly intricate and coloured 16th-century wooden…