From Talavera Port to Llano del Rosario: The True Birthplace of Barlovento
As Barlovento prepares for the festivities honouring Our Lady of the Rosary, the town’s origins are closely tied to its church, seen as the community’s heart. However, Barlovento’s history extends far beyond this, beginning at Talavera Port by the sea.
Following the conquest of La Palma in 1493, Talavera became one of the first northern control centres on the island. Captain Diego Rodríguez de Talavera oversaw La Palma while Alonso Fernández de Lugo planned the campaign for Tenerife. Rodríguez used the port to solidify control and quell resistance from the indigenous Benahorites.
Historical accounts reveal a grim chapter marked by oppression, including executions and enslavement of the local people. Historian Rumeu de Armas referred to this as one of the darkest periods of the Canary Islands’ conquest. Thus, Talavera Port isn’t just a geographical spot; it represents a painful memory where a new political and economic order began, coupled with trauma for the local indigenous population.
Over decades, focus shifted from the coast to the interior as more fertile agricultural land became available at the Llano under the present church. This led to the birth of Barlovento, not as a military establishment but through community initiative.
By the mid-16th century, records mention a small chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. Initially a simple wooden structure, it eventually became a baptismal church and then a parish. The Rosary gained significance as a protective figure for locals during challenging times, becoming central to everyday life in Barlovento.
Interestingly, the church did not arise alongside an existing settlement; rather, it attracted residents. In 1674, ecclesiastical visitor Juan Pinto de Guisla noted that landowners Aguilar and Camacho donated land for the church, which prompted community growth. Although some residents proposed other sites, this donation solidified the decision.
The church acted as a catalyst for urban development, with plots assigned to early inhabitants expected to build near the temple. This ensured safety, religious support, and social unity, leading to the formation of the settlement that preceded modern Barlovento.
Both Talavera Port and Llano del Rosario are essential to understanding Barlovento’s history—one representing military conquest and the other the establishment of an agricultural community. Their intertwined histories illustrate the transition from captured territory to a town with its own identity.
Perhaps it is time to view these sites not as separate tales but as part of a single narrative—a journey from conquest to community, with Barlovento emerging at the intersection of both its pasts.
