LANZAROTE INFORMATION

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Lanzarote a unique place.

In 1987 Lanzarote was declared one of the six universal models of sustainable development by the World Tourism Organization and in 1994 it was declared a Reserve of the Biosphere by UNESCO.

Climate.

The island enjoys an overage temperature of 22 degrees celsius all year round due to its advantageous location in the Tropic of Cancer.

The Capital.

Arrecife is the political and commercial capital and home to half of the island’s population. Five minutes away is the international airport with its daily flights to the other Canary as well as connections with Spain and continental Europe.

Facts and Stats.

Lanzarote, including the small islands of La Graciosa, Alegranza, Montana Clara, Roque del Este y del Oeste, covers 900 km¦ running 60 km north to south and only 20 km at its widest point.

Lanzarote harbours seven municipalities: Arrecife (the capital), Teguise, Haria, San Bartolome, Tias, Tinajo and Yaiza with an official population of nearly 100.000 inhabitants, mostly residing in the south-central part of the island.

Lanzarote is named after a Genoese navigator called Lancelotto Malocello who arrived on the island during the second half of the XIV century opening the way to successive expeditions of French, British and Spanish sailors and merchants. Previously the isles were known as the Fortunate Islands.

Economy.

Fishing and agriculture once formed the basis of the island’s economy but have since been overtaken by the excellent quality of its tourism industry. Amongst the most outstanding attractions are the Art, Culture and Tourist Centres run under the auspices of the insular Council. The world famous artist Cesar Manrique's sensitive response to Lanzarote's unique geography and people was instrumental in creating a pervasive artistic identity throughout the island. Great care has been taken in preserving its historical and artistic heritage, its monuments and characteristic houses, its local festivals and popular customs... in short, all the expression of its culture and folklore.

The National Park of Timanfaya.

On no account neglect to visit the most important tourist attraction on the island.The National Park of Timanfaya is a volcanic field where visitors can appreciate a great variety of geological phenomena as well as a large biological mix of some 180 different plant species. In this impressive habitat where human presence has been practically nil, the park serves as an authentic laboratory for biological research.

Timanfaya is one of the best examples of a volcanic habitat sparsely vegetated and inhabited by rare species that feed upon organic matter carried by the wind.

Services: Bar and cafeteria.

Location: Yaiza.

Phone Number: 928.84.00.56 / 928.84.00.57

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 hrs

The Cesar Manrique Foundation.

The Cesar Manrique Foundation is the island’s cultural centre par excellence that has won international recognition , not only because it houses some of the work of the world famous artist himself, but also because it exhibits Manriqu's private collection of some prestigious artists such as Picasso, Miro, Chillida, Klee... etc.

Services: Bar and cafeteria.

Location: Tahiche.

Phone Number: 928.84.31.38 / 928.84.30.70.

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Jameos del Agua.

One of the most interesting galleries of connecting caves and underground grottoes in the world lies to the north of Lanzarote, at the foot of the volcano Monte de la Corona which erupted around 3.000 years ago. "Jameos" means bubbles of lava. A jameo is formed when a tunnel ceiling collapses, most often occurring when its width exceeds twenty meters, or when gases accumulate and explode. Only a jameo reveals the presence of volcanic passages and allows their routes to be traced. The Jameos del Agua was artistically developed for viewing by CÚsar Manrique in 1968. Through a winding staircase visitors enter into the Jameo Grande, a roofless volcanic bubble 100m long and 30m wide, and from there into a magnificent garden with a large swimming pool. A dance floor and two bars built into the niches formed by the rocks create and exciting night-time. A concert cave opens up towards the end of Jameo Grande. This admirable architecture with its wonderful natural acoustics, seats 600 spectators and offers a unique setting for concerts and ballet performances. At the foot of this cave is a large stage that extends into the next volcanic bubble called Jameo de la Cazuela, the latest to be accessible to the public.

Location: Towards Orzola.

Phone Number: 928.84.80.20

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 9:30 to 19:00 hours. Friday and Saturday from 19:00 to 03:00 hours. Services: Bar and restaurant 13:00 to 15:30 hours and 20:00 to 23:30 hours.

The Museum of Contemporary Art.

The Museum of Contemporary Art is located in Arrecife, in the San Jose’s Castle, a fortress built between 1776 and 1779 by King Carlos III...

Cesar Manrique, its honorary director, was aware of the importance of this building and wanted to preserve it as a lasting reminder of the past, but convert its interiors into a Museum of Modern Art. Several of his paintings and some artworks from his own private collection were donated to this end.

Services: Bar and Restaurant are open from 13:00 to 15:45 hours and from 20:00 to 23:30 hours .

Location: Puerto Naos, s/n, Arrecife.

Phone Number: 928.81.23.21

Opening Hours: Museum: Mon. to Sun 11:00 to 21:00 hrs.

Castle: Mon. to Sun from 11:00 to 01:00 hrs.

El Golfo.

El Golfo -the Gulf- is the name of the volcanic crater (today reduced to half of its original size) filled by underground sea water creating a green lagoon. The stunning contrast of black beach and deep green colouring caused by the algae which inhabit its waters, forms a unique and spectacular sight

Mirador del Rio.

This lookout point is located in the north end of the island on top of a cliff, 479 meters above sea level. The view of the island of La Graciosa and over the islet Monta?a Clara is breathtaking.

Yet another of Manrique¦s creations. The artist excavated an opening in the top of the mountain to house a restaurant with a domed ceiling. On the outside this structure is camouflaged by a simple garden.

Services: Bar and cafeteria.

Location: Ctra. de Ye, Haria.

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 10:00 to 18:00 hours

La Cueva De Los Verdes.

In the northern part of Lanzarote, to the south-east of the volcano Monte de la Corona, forms part of a spectacular system of underground grottoes (the jameos). It is not only one of the most interesting volcanic formations on the island, but is also one of the longest volcanic galleries in the world (6 km long).

The caves and galleries were created as a result of a prehistoric eruption from the volcano Monte Corona between three and five thousand years ago when a major stream of lava was ejected toward the east coast into in the sea. The surface of the lava cooled rapidly and hardened, whilst steaming lava continued to flow underneath the petrified basaltic layer.

Hollowed out spaces were created which subsequently exploded once inflated by gases. This was not an isolated phenomenon since there are two superimposed galleries connected to one another by random vertical cavities. In 1964 a 2 km long path-way was opened to visitors. Sophisticated lighting was added to lend theatrical effects to this wonder of nature.

Location: Haria.

Phone Number 928.17.32.20

Opening Hours Monday to Sunday 10:00 to 18:00 hrs - Last entrance at 17:00

The Cactus Garden.

The Cactus Garden is one of CÚsar Manrique's last works. The artist turned an old quarry into an impressive cactus plantation...Moreover visitors can appreciate some typical elements that characterise the island such as the tastefully restored windmill. In this garden the combination of creatively Arranged flora and traditional element reaches its maximum expression.

Location: Between Guatiza and Mala.

Phone Number: 928.52.93.97

Opening Hours: 10:00 to 18:00 hrs.

Services: Bar and cafeteria 10:00 to 17:00 hrs.

Santa Barbara Castle

Santa Barbara Castle, now a museum, sits on the Guanapay mountain overlooking Teguise. It was built by Sancho de Herrera in the 16th century as a watchtower for the coastlines on both sides of the island. In 1588 Laonardo Torriani, an Italian engineer in the service of King Felipe II, reinforced the castle’s structure adding spyholes, turrets, embrasures and moats, converting it into a real fortress.

Most of the documents gathered in Lanzarote concerning the Canarian emigration to America are exhibited in this Castle-Museum. The majority of these documents come from local archives and include family letters, passports, postcards, pictures, maps etc. This original material has been complemented with reproductions, scale models and texts to offer a more comprehensive context

After the initial growth, the castle slowly entered a long period of deterioration until 1960 when a group called "Friends of the Castles" undertook the first restoration . A subsequent restoration was carried out in 1977 by the Fine Arts Association. In 1989, the Restoration Department of Teguise’s town hall undertook the final renovation to restore Torriani's original design. Recently the interior of this castle has been tastefully converted into the Museum of Canarian Emigrants.

Location: Santa Barbara Castle. Monta?a de Guanapay, Teguise

Phone Number: 928.84.50.01

Opening Hours: Summer: 10:00 to 16:00h.

Winter: 10:00 to 17:00 hrs Monday to Friday.

10:00 to 16:00 hrs Saturday and Sunday.