You'll often hear reference to "The Seven Attractions of Lanzarote" but do you know them all? If not, here's a list:
Fundacion César Manrique
Monumento al Campesino
Jardin de Cactus
Cueva de los Verdes
Jameos del Agua
Mirador del Río
Castillo San José
What all seven share is that they were conceived and designed by César Manrique and they are official government run attractions. All are fine value for money - and even offer discounts for residents, and all are unique.
You should make time to see each, even if you spread them across two or three days of your holiday. Here's a brief description of them:
Fundacion César Manrique
This was the house Manrique designed for his own use in the 1960's and he lived there for a number of years, before moving out to Haria, at which point he bequeathed the house to his foundation. It's set in five volcanic "bubbles" and is a truly spectacular design. As well as giving an insight into his home and lifestyle, the house is a museum of some of his best works, and the garden is a joy to behold.
Monumento al Campesino
The monument itself is exactly at the centre of the island, and the sculpture was made by Manrique as a tribute to the traditional farmers of the island, who managed to grow produce in the most difficult conditions. Within the grounds there is a craft museum, and a large display of traditional farming tools and implements. There is a also a bar and restaurant which serves traditional tapas and local wines.
Jardin de Cactus
This was Manrique's last project and is located at Guatiza, the centre of the island's cochineal beetle trade. It is set in an old quarry and features more than 1,000 varieties of cactus. In common with all these attractions, there is a bar / restaurant and superbly clean toilet facilities - something Manrique insisted upon!
Cueva de los Verdes
This is a 6KM long volcanic gallery, located near to Punta Mujeres, and was once a place where islanders sheltered from pirate attacks. There are some fascinating rock formations and the interior is always cool. Look out for the most amazing optical illusion during your visit.
Jameos del Agua
Part of the same tunnel system, the Jameos del Agua opens into a huge underground auditorium, which is used for music concerts. There is also a fabulous swimming pool built into the centre, with smooth sides and tremendous landscaping.
Mirador del Rio
Built literally into the cliffs, this attraction offers one of the world's best views, across the straight between Lanzarote and La Graciosa - just breathtaking!
Castillo San José
Originally built in the 18th century as protection from Arrecife from pirates, the castle now houses permanent art collection as well as regular one-off exhibitions. Once again, there is an excellent restaurant located in the Castillo.
All these attractions have been built in harmony with the local environment, and are in sympathy with the ethos of sustainable tourism, which was Manrique' legacy to Lanzarote.
César Manrique Cabrera was born on April 24, 1919 in Puerto Naos, Arrecife (Lanzarote). His father was a food merchant and his grandfather a notary public. César preceded his twin sister Amparo by just a few minutes. The Manriques constituted a typical middle class family. In 1934, his father bought a lot in Caleta de Famara and built a house next to the ocean. read more »
This is slightly tongue in cheek, but it's a question I'm often asked by people new to the island, so I thought I'd come up with a few pointers to try to highlight the cultural differences between our two races: read more »
Nothing will quite prepare you for Teguise market, the first time you visit. A marketing man would suggest that Lanzarote is punching well above its weight with Teguise market, and indeed, if it were to have to survive on our small population, the market would wither and die. And that's exactly why it's aimed fairly and squarely at the 1.6 million tourists who visit the island every year. read more »
Guatiza in the North of Lanzarote still has fields of prickly pear cactus which was grown to harvest cochineal beetles and the brilliant red dye they produce, one of the main industries of the island before tourism. read more »
This is a classic shot of Haria Valley, one of the lushest areas of the island. Historically two palms were planted for every boy born and one for every girl, making the valley the most dense concentration of Canarian palms in the world.
