The Canary Islands are synonymous with package tourism. As these seven specks of Spain located just off the coast of West Africa welcome well over nine million visitors every year. But these volcanic islands are not all birds of a feather – as each boasts its own individual character.
Lanzarote, the eastern most link in the chain, is widely regarded as much more unspoiled than some of the larger islands such as Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
Visitors here won’t encounter any high rise buildings – as these were all banned back in the 1970´s. Advertising hoardings and billboards are conspicuous by their abscence – replaced instead by giant, Heath-Robinson-esque wind toys. Whilst the three main tourist resorts of Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise are all well contained. Allowing Lanzarote´s rural identity to really shine through – and making holidays in Lanzarote an ideal choice for anyone seeking a relaxed and tranquil sunshine break.
It could all have been very different though. As Lanzarote was ripe for development during the 1960´s – when General Franco encouraged the birth of mass market tourism along the Spanish costas and in the Canaries. Neighbouring islands were rapidly covered in concrete – but Lanzarote managed to escape this fate. Thanks to the influence of an island born artist called Cesar Manrique.
Manrique was born in Lanzarote´s capital city of Arrecife in 1919. Soon acquiring a love for the unique volcanic scenery surrounding him on holidays in the north of the island, where his family owned a summer house. This stimulated his artistic leanings and he went on to study at the School of Belles Artes in Madrid before heading up the Spanish surrealist movement during he 1950´s.
By the time that the developers were set to swoop Manrique had moved to New York to study and exhibit under the patronage of the super wealthy Rockefeller clan. But despite his success abroad he resolved to return to Lanzarote instead. Determined to battle against the threat of unrestrained construction.
Fortunately for the island he proved successful – thanks to the additional influence of one Pepin Ramirez. An old family fiend and then the island governor who shared Manrique´s views.
Together the pair ensured that the majority of the island remained pretty much as nature had always intended. Whilst Manrique created a series of unique visitor attractions that worked with Lanzarote´s delicate volcanic terrain – rather than against it.
His best known work is probably the Jameos del Agua in the north of the island – which started life as collapsed lava tube but which is now a stunning subterranean auditorium and concert venue.
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