There are some fantastic holiday destinations is Spin. But few of them can match the Canary Island of Lanzarote for dramatic and surreal scenery. As this small island was rocked by massive eruptions during the 1730´s which irrevocably altered its terrain – transforming much of the island’s interior into an eerie lunar-scape.
Lanzarote is one of the seven islands that comprise the Canarian archipelago. A Spanish owned territory that is located off the West coast of Africa. A location that helps to create a fantastic climate all year round and which is often likened to an eternal Spring. With temperatures averaging at around 22 Celsius whatever the time of year.
Package tourism first took off in the Canaries during the 1970´s and Lanzarote now welcomes around 1.5 million visitors every year. The majority of them from the UK, Eire and Germany. With accommodation in Lanzarote concentrated in the three main resorts of Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise. Which is where tourists will find the largest selection of villas in Lanzarote.
Along with a wide range of Lanzarote holiday apartments.
But despite its popularity Lanzarote still remains relatively untouched by tourism. Especially in relation to the larger islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria. As high rise construction was banned here during the 1970´s, along with advertising hoardings. Whilst tourism is well contained. Leaving Lanzarote much as nature intended.
Which is just as well – as the island has been blessed with an abundance of natural, if slightly unconventional, beauty spots. The most famous of which is the Timanfaya National Park – home to hundreds of square kilometres of twisted lava fields and spent volcanic peaks. Which were created by a six year eruption during the 1730´s.
At the time these events obviously caused a great deal of devastation and hardship. With many Lanzaroteños forced to flee and start new lives abroad. Today however the surreal scenery of the Montañas del Fuego – or Fire Mountains as they are called locally – is the number one tourist attraction. Welcoming close to one million visitors a year.
Elsewhere on the island a local artist called César Manrique succesfully fused this twisted terrain with his own creativity to develop a series of unique attractions. Such as the Jameos del Agua – a collapsed lava tube which Manrique converted into a massive underground auditorium and concert venue during the late 1960´s.
This project was hailed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” by the visiting Hollywood legend Rita Heyworth and really helped to put Lanzarote on the map for the first time, winning plaudits and acclaim worldwide.
Before his untimely death in 1992 Manrique created a further six similar attractions around the island. Helping to secure UNESCO protected biosphere status for Lanzarote in the process.