LANZAROTE PLACES OF INTEREST

One of the pleasant differences in Lanzarote, when compared with the other Canary Islands or other destinations, is its tourist attractions offer, Lanzarote is not just an exclusive destination of sun and sand, here are places you must visit. The offer of tourist attractions that we have collected in this attraction guide of Lanzarote, is based first on the Centers for Arts, Culture and Tourism, which are administered by the Cabildo of Lanzarote. It is a set of sites that stand out as some of them natural, which have been decorated and adapted by the prominent artist from Lanzarote Cesar Manrique.

In the northern sector are "Jameos Del Agua", Jameos is part of a volcanic pipe, of which the roof has collapsed because of the accumulation of gases; generating a circular opening that can be accessed inside the volcanic pipe. Two of these Jameos (holes) and the section of pipe through which the magma flowed is what have been termed "Jameos Del Agua."

Nearby are the "Cueva de los Verdes" This cave was formed because of a very fluid lava flow; we can access it through a Jameo. 2 kilometers from the cave have been conditioned to be visited, you may notice capricious shapes in the rock and stalactites caused by leakage of lava. Inside the cave has been enabled an auditorium that provides an exceptional acoustics in which frequently take place concerts with wind instruments.

Also in the north sector of Lanzarote is the "Mirador del Rio" which is exactly at the summit of Risco de Famara of 470 meters high, where once there were a military hideout to hide machine guns and cannons. Cesar Manrique designed “Mirador” in the 1973, since the currency was all islands and islets called "Chinijo Archipelago", firstly the island of Graciosa.

In the center you will find "Jardín de Cactus" (Cactus Garden). Is a Botanical Garden of 5,000 m2 hosting nearly ten thousand cacti with over a thousand different species. The Garden was built on a rock quarry in volcanic ash and the architectural work is built of stone and formation of terraces, very similar to a Roman amphitheatre.

“Casa y Museo al Campesino” and “Monumento al Campesino”, is in the center of the island, the house museum opened its doors in 1968, is a creation of Cesar Manrique and Jesus Soto. It was an old farmhouse that has been restored and as such, recreates rural architecture of Lanzarote. The monument was built in order to honor the effort of the peasant community of the island.

In the south of Lanzarote is the most visited tourist attraction on the island, "Timanfaya National Park" Volcanic eruptions occurred between 1730 and 1736 that destroyed fields of crops and entire villages and covered the island with ash and volcanic material, these eruptions caused the birth of hundreds of craters that today we can see in this wonderful place, also called "Montañas de Fuego".

Other tourist attractions that deserve to be visited are "Cesar Manrique Foundation" created in 1987. It is located in the town of Taro in Tahíche, in the house where the artist lived for 19 years. It was built from the base of five volcanic bubbles and has a traditional architecture of Lanzarote.

Also in the south of the island and close to one another are "Charcos de los Clicos" one of the few examples of hydro-volcanism. This is a volcanic crater which has been affected by sea erosion, inside the crater there is a small pond known as Laguna de los Clicos, you will be impressed by the green coloured water of the lagoon which is explained by the presence of large numbers of suspended plant organisms. "Los Hervideros" that is how they call the area of the coast where the magma reached the sea and solidified. The force of the waves allows the water to rise and take advantage of holes and crevices in the rock. The "Salinas de Janubio", the largest saltworks throughout the Canary archipelago and declared protected natural area.

Finally, deserves a visit, the "Castles of Lanzarote". "Castillo de San José" is a fortress that overlooks directly at the entrance to the port of Arrecife. The artist Cesar Manrique transformed the castle into an art gallery that we know today as the International Museum of Contemporary Art. "Castillo de San Gabriel” built in 1573, today houses the archaeological museum. “Castillo Santa Barbara” on the Mountain Guanapay, was built in 1588, today serves as "Museo Del Emigrante Canario" and exposes documents of people living in the Canary Islands who migrated to America in early XX century, passports, boarding cards, letters, and photographs and so on.