Culture

The Guindaste Lime Kiln

The striking shape of this kiln, located next to the beach, makes every visitor to San Andrés y Sauces wonder: what is that giant cone by the beach? This is the largest and best preserved lime kiln on the island of La Palma.

Lime is a building material used in the preparation of masonry mixtures and mortars, used to join walls, foundations or slabs, and is therefore essential for the construction of housing and other infrastructure. However, as this material comes from limestone or dolomite rocks, it is scarce on the island, which is why these kilns were essential for the island's development.

This, together with the one located in Charo Azul, was in operation until well into the 20th century. The limestone rock, which was brought to Puerto Espindola from Fuerteventura or Lanzarote, was introduced to them. The workers responsible for operating the kiln would prepare the furnace, ensuring that it reached the optimum temperature (between 900 and 1000 °C), supervising the calcination of the rock and extracting the calcium oxide (CaO) or lime, and then preparing it for sale and transport.

Otros puntos de interés

• The archaeological site of El Tendal