La Molina de la Asomada at Fuerteventura

La Molina de la Asomada is located in the village of La Asomada, a hamlet of Puerto del Rosario, near the villages of Los Estancos and Tetir .

It remains a building type unique to Fuerteventura and is the only windmill in Europe still in operation for grinding gofio.

This natural place was built in 1818 and was declared a Site of Cultural Interest and restored by the Cabildo of Fuerteventura in 2011.

The Molina de la Asomada, or women’s mills, is an architectural element whose use extended for decades in the rural environment of Fuerteventura.

This is because their use or rental was a fundamental process in the economy of the island of Fuerteventura.

Its machinery allows it to produce large quantities of gofio in a short time and to grind different types of flour.

Because the stone of La Molina de La Asomada , unlike other mills, rotates three times faster, it takes advantage of the wind in all directions.

A bit of history

The invention of La Molina de La Asomada is attributed to Isidoro Ortega, originally from Santa Cruz de La Palma, in the 19th century.

The mill had fallen into disuse following the abandonment of traditional methods of grinding grain before the arrival of industrial production.

Its recovery required meticulous restoration work on its iron and wooden elements, as well as the return of the most deteriorated ones.

The mill building was also renovated, the machinery was assembled, and the roof and surrounding areas were installed.

During the restoration of La Molina de La Asomada, most of the pieces of the mill’s machinery were recovered.

While the restored pieces maintain their traditional typology, such as the tower and the machinery, which were previously located in the village of Casillas del Angel .

The functions of the mill

La Molina de la Asomada is a monument of ethnographic value and as such is an unmissable stop on an itinerary in Fuerteventura.

The main innovation of this windmill is to combine the milling and grain handling activities in a single plant.

Another remarkable quality of the grinder is its portability, given the clear difference between the machine and the building.

The mill allowed the tower and grinding machinery to be transported to a new building at any time, as well as being easy to dismantle.

During the grinding process, the burrs are controlled via the brake lever, which has a metal plate that presses on the gear wheel to reduce the force.

To adjust the degree of grinding of the grain, another lever located at the bottom of the raft is used.

How to get there?

La Molina de La Asomada is about 6.2 km from Puerto del Rosario, easily reachable in 8 minutes.

From Puerto del Rosario, follow the FV-10 towards Tetir, continuing straight for 6 km.

Then turn left onto Ctra. La Asomada and you arrive at your destination.