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0871 423-5051
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La Oliva is a popular rural Fuerteventura town for day trips, particularly for visits to its pretty 18th century church, its dilapidated foreign legion fortress (currently with resident goats setting up camp), and its very interesting Grain Museum - Casa de la Cilla. La Oliva was once the capital of Fuerteventura, and this long history is evident in the historic architecture preserved in the town. Certainly it's well worth spending some time here if you're out and about in your hire car. If you've booked on a grand tour of Fuerteventura, it'll usually stop here in La Oliva.
For a base, La Oliva is a good choice for walking holidays on Fuerteventura, if you're planning to push out around excellent walking and cycling territory in the nearby Tindaya area and around Villaverde. (check out the rural tourism link to the right for more details on walking holidays in this area).
The central focus of La Oliva is its rather striking church - the 18th century Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria. This unusually black volcanic church, built in 1711 also has stark white walls - an interesting contrasting effect.
To see the old foreign legion fort here - Casa de los Coroneles (which is due to be renovated at some point) move to the south of the town. This also dates from the 18th century. It's an old reminder of the powerhouse that La Oliva once was in the 18th century, when troops located here controlled the affairs of Fuerteventura. The oppression of peasants on the island was horrific and there were a number of uprisings.
Most visitors arriving at La Oliva on a grand tour of Fuerteventura head for the tiny Grain Museum - Casa de la Cilla (open 9.30am to 5.30pm on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays - check the rural tourism link right for more details). Demonstrations of grain production and gofio production are on view here, with some exploration of the hardship of agricultural workers through the years in the area.
Also worth a look is the Centro de Arte Canario Museum, Casa Mane open daily from 10am to 5pm except Sundays. La Oliva is a pleasant stopping off point, to view its historic sights and museums, alongside a leisurely drink or snack in the town's selection of laid back bars.
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