Destination Information

Castillo de San José

San José Castle is located in Puerto Nao, a strategic enclave in the bay of Arrecife. Known as the “Fortress of Hunger”, it was built under the reign of Charles III for defensive purposes on the island of Lanzarote. Two centuries later, César Manrique directed its refurbishment to house the International Museum of Contemporary Art, MIAC, establishing it as the first contemporary art museum in the Canary Islands. In December 1976, the International Museum of Contemporary Art MIAC was inaugurated, and since then it has offered visitors an outstanding collection of international, national and Canarian artists, a program of temporary exhibitions and cultural activities. The museum is complemented by a spectacular restaurant with stunning views of the bay offered by the semi-circular glass construction of the building.