We found the Canary Islands’ smallest capital also to be one of its prettiest with its steep, cobbled lanes, flowery gardens and cute historic buildings. Plus, because of the hillside location, there are often amazing views down to the Atlantic Ocean far below. 

Apart from that, Valverde is a good base for exploring the island, as it has bus connections to most other parts of the island and a nice selection of restaurants and bars.

The town has less than 5,000 inhabitants, but despite its small size, there are a number of sights that I think you shouldn’t miss while you’re in town. Here’s my list of things to do in Valverde.

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The Best Things to Do in Valverde

Valverde has been the capital of El Hierro since the Spanish conquest in 15th century, but its history is goes back much further. The town is said to have grown around an old settlement of the Bimbache, the island’s indigenous inhabitants, although there are no traces of that left today.

The elevated inland location sets Valverde apart from most other Canary Island capitals. Aparently, that was mainly a practical choice, as it offered some protection from the attacks by pirates and privateers that constantly threatened the Canary Islands.

The town really became an important administrative centre during the Spanish colonisation of El Hierro. Most of the older buildings in town date from that era of Spanish colonial rule, including the Casa del Conde and the Ermita de Santiago.

Casa de las Quinteras Museum

The Centro Etnográfico Casa de las Quinteras is part museum and part cultural centre. The displays focus mainly on different traditional crafts of the island, including pottery, weaving and woodworking.

There’s a reconstructed blacksmith’s shop as well as a room that is crammed to the rafters with different historical tools and objects of daily use. There’s also an interesting short video that explains the history of self-sustainment on the island as well as the importance of preserving the traditional crafts.

We found it an interesting glimpse into the former everyday life of El Hierro’s inhabitants, and we also liked the pretty small garden that surrounds the historic stone houses with the exhibits.

The centre is open from Monday to Saturday, 10am to 2pm and 2.30pm to 6pm. You can double-check the current times here. The entrance fee is €4, or it’s free with the Pasaporte El Hierro.

Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción

El Hierro’s biggest church can be found right at Plaza Quintero Nuñez, Valverde’s cute main square. It dates to the 18th century and in bygone times, the pretty tower was used a lookout for pirates, who apparently dropped by quite often.

Inside, the colourful altar is home to a statue of the Virgin Mary, but our favourite feature was the Mudéjar-style carved ceiling. The big building on the eastern side of the square is the town hall.

Try the Cheesecake at Fábrica de las Quesadillas

El Hierro has a famous local cheesecake, which is made from a mixture of cow’s, goat’s and sheep’s milk. You can try it in plenty of restaurants on the island (for instance, the one at the Mirador de la Peña) or you can go directly to the Fábrica de las Quesadillas in the lower part of Valverde.

A single cake is €4, which we found to be good value. It’s open daily, but the opening times depend on the weekday. You can check them on their website.

Homenaje a la Bajada Sculpture

At the eastern edge of town stands a strange sculpture that we always drove past constantly on our way to the centre of the island, until we finally decided to stop and inspect it more closely.

As it turns out, the sculpture is almost entirely made from reused scrap material that was collected around the island, including old fridges and other household appliances. The artwork was made by local sculptor Rubén Armiche and depicts the dancers in the procession of the Virgen (Bajada de la Virgen).

The sculpture can be found along the road that leads from Valverde to the eastern coast, a few hundred metres out of town.  

Ermita de Santiago

The small hermitage at the northern end of Valverde is the oldest church on the island. The original building was erected in the 15th century on the orders of Jean de Béthencourt, who was a French explorer and the first king of the Canary Islands

The current structure dates to the early 18th century. The outside is rather austere and the building was closed when we were there, so the historical significance would be the main reason to check it out.

Casa del Conde

The small Casa del Conde is the former residence of El Hierro’s steward. We found it quite pretty from the outside, but it’s private property so you can’t explore it from the inside.

Still, as it’s only about 150m north of the Casa de las Quinteras, we found it worth the tiny detour.

Map of Valverde

You can find all the places I described above in this map of Valverde.

Practicalities

How to Get to Valverde

As the island’s transport hub, nearly all of El Hierro’s buses stop at the bus station at the southern edge of town near the aptly named Supermercado La Estación.

There are connections to most towns and villages on the island, including La Frontera, Las Restinga and Tamaduste. You can check connections and timetables online here.

Where to Stay in Valverde

As the biggest town on El Hierro, Valverde is a good base for exploring the island. An affordable place to stay would be pretty Hotel Boomerang, which is close to the main square and has a café attached, which serves awesome breakfasts.

Alternatively, Cuevita Bimbache is a midrange option with good ratings. If you prefer some luxury, El Hierro Bed&Loft has tremendous reviews. Have a look at the map below for some more options.

See Also

The Ultimate Three Day Itinerary for El Hierro, Canary Islands

Reaching El Hierro by Ferry From Tenerife – A Short Guide