The 10 most beautiful sights in Lanzarote / Travel Guide
Sparse, but indescribably beautiful, Lanzarote resembles an extraterrestrial world. There are only a few monuments, but all the more natural attractions.
With an area of almost 846 km2, a length of 60 kilometers and a maximum width of 34 kilometers, Lanzarote stands out from the group of Canary Islands. But also thanks to the dry climate and the idiosyncratic landscape, three quarters of which is covered with cooled lava flows. Lanzarote offers so much to discover, from the unique vegetation of the “Valley of 1,000 Palms” to the wine region of La Geria. Since 1993 the entire island has been under the protection of UNESCO as a biosphere reserve. Here we have the most beautiful places on the island for you.
1. Timanfaya National Park (Parque Nacional de Timanfaya)
Now part of the Lanzarote Biosphere Reserve, the 5,107 hectare Timanfaya National Park was established in 1974. The main attraction here is the numerous volcanic cones scattered throughout the park, which is why Timanfaya is also known as “Parque de las Montañas del Fuego” (Park of the Fire Mountains). Indeed, the bone-dry topography, with its craggy lava rocks and fields of red to reddish-brown boulders under the beating sun, looks like a scene from another planet. It is no coincidence that the national park is occasionally used as a backdrop for science fiction movies.
2. Fortress of San José (Castillo de San José)
Built between 1776 and 1779, the Fort of San José rises high on the cliffs above the port of Naos. Compared to the defenses of the other Canary Islands, it seems small and modest; a metaphor for the fact that Lanzarote, with its difficult climate and barren landscape, had never been particularly popular with the respective rulers. Shaped like the letter D in plan, the fortress is rounded on the sea side, while the facade on the land side is straight. The most famous son of Lanzarote, the artist César Manrique (see “César Manrique Foundation” below), expanded it in the 1970s, to then in 1976 as the International Museum of Contemporary Art (Museo Internacional de Arte Contemporaneo), abbreviated MIAC, the present to the public.
3. Saint Genesius Church (Iglesia Matriz de San Ginés Obispo)
Arrecife, the capital of the island, is home to what is probably Lanzarote’s most beautiful historic church. Your ship is built in the typical Canarian style, while Arab-Moorish elements prevail in the bell tower. It was built in 1667 and expanded repeatedly until the 19th century. The church is dedicated to Arrecife’s patron saint, Genesius of Clermont (d. 725). Masses are held every evening from 7:30 p.m.
4. Verdes Cave (Cueva de los Verdes)
The municipality of Haría is home to one of the island’s most impressive natural wonders, one of the longest lava tubes in the world. It was formed more than 3,000 years ago when the Monte Corona volcano erupted and a lava flow rolled to the sea. The surface cooled while the still-liquid interior drained away, forming a vaulted ceiling over the hollow interior. Over time, the ceiling broke through in a number of places, allowing daylight to enter, which really brings out the different colors of the mineral deposit. About two kilometers of the lava tube are accessible. Their name “Verdes” is not derived from the Spanish word “verde” (green), but refers to the long-established Verdes family, on whose land the tube runs for the most part. A concert hall was built at the entrance to the tube, where regular performances are held.
5. Atlántico Underwater Museum (Museo Atlántico)
On the east side of Rubicón Marina on Las Coloradas Bay is one of the most unusual art museums in the world – it is an average of 12 meters below sea level. The artist Jason de Caires Taylor set up hundreds of sculptural groups on 2,500 square meters of seabed. For example, there is a rowing boat occupied by children, a circle formed by 200 intertwined human bodies, but also a slightly overweight gentleman who has settled down on his sofa in front of the television set. The underwater museum is best explored by diving, but there is also the alternative of gliding over the exhibition in a glass-bottom boat. The museum aims to raise awareness in all of us of how inseparable we are from nature and that it is our duty to protect our environment. According to the artist, over time the sculptures will gradually transform into a coral reef through the colonization of coral polyps.
6. Campesino Monument and Museum (Monumento al Campesino y Museo del Campesino)
“Campesino” is the Spanish term for a mostly impoverished farmer making a meager living. Here in Lanzarote, agriculture has always been particularly difficult due to the infertile soil and perhaps this is the reason why a monument to the Campesino has been erected here. The monument, made of snow-white building blocks in the abstract cubist style, can be seen from afar and represents a stylized campesino, at whose feet a sheep and a pig let their gaze wander over the landscape. An adjoining small museum illustrates the agricultural history of Lanzarote. There are also souvenir shops and a restaurant built underground into the hill.
7. Santa Barbara Castle (Castillo de Santa Barbara) and Piracy Museum
The imposing fortress of Santa Barbara was built near the town of Villa de Teguise on the slope of the Guanapay at the end of the 16th century to protect against the regular pirate raids from which Lanzarote and the other Canary Islands suffered. Although the garrison was disbanded in the 19th century, the fortress served as a military prison until 1899. In 2011, however, its original function was remembered and, after extensive restoration work, the interesting piracy museum was set up in it.
8. Cesar Manrique Foundation and Museum (Fundación y Museo Cesar Manrique)
Born and raised in Lanzarote, the painter, sculptor, architect and passionate environmentalist César Manrique Cabrera (1919-1992) is considered the island’s most famous son. As early as 1982, together with a group of friends and patrons, he founded the foundation named after him, whose mission is to promote artistic activity within the framework of a healthy environmental and cultural awareness – not only on Lanzarote, but also beyond. However, the foundation only became active after his death in 1992 and was housed in the former house and outbuildings of the artist’s estate. However, before his death he had the opportunity to transform the complex according to his ideas so that it would eventually also be suitable as a museum and event venue.
9. Janubio Lagoon and Salt Fields (Laguna y Salinas de Janubio)
On the southwest coast of Lanzarote is the municipality of Yaiza and it includes a saltwater lagoon that was once separated from the Atlantic by volcanic activity. In 1895, the first salt fields were set up here, in which lagoon water evaporated by the action of the sun and table salt can thus be commercially extracted. Over time, the salt fields were expanded to around 45 hectares. Due to the ever-decreasing demand over the last forty years (originally much of the salt was used to preserve fish), only a fifth of the area is now used and produces around 2,000 tons of sea salt per year.
10. Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park (Parque Natural del Archipiélago Chinijo)
A few kilometers off the north-western tip of Lanzarote, the Chinijo archipelago is made up of five small islands, of which only Graciosa is inhabited. In its entirety, the archipelago together with a coastal strip of Lanzarote has been designated as a nature park since 1986. The islands are home to a variety of birds and also serve as a welcome stopover for migratory birds each year. From Lanzarote you can take a day trip by boat and exploring the archipelago.
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