Cesar´s Empire - Lanzarote Repackaged

Nick Ball of Lanzarote tourist guide, Lanzaroteguidebook.com gives us an overview of this Island in the Atlantic.

Despite its reputation as a sunshine destination in the UK, the unique volcanic island of Lanzarote has much more to offer than just bucket and spade beach holidays.

Thanks to the efforts of an island born artist and architect – Cesar Manrique – who guided the controlled evolution of tourism on this small speck of Spain. Which is located just 62 miles off the coast of Africa and which lies on the same line of longitude as parts of Mexico and Florida.

During the 1960’s when tourism in Spain really started to take off, there was every chance that Lanzarote could have become yet another Torremolinos or Fuengirola. Buried beneath a sea of high rise concrete.

Fearing such a fate Manrique – who was born in the island capital of Arrecife in 1919 - returned from New York, where he had been exhibiting and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Any Warhol. And began fighting to preserve the natural beauty of the island that first awakened his artistic inclinations.

The well connected Manrique had friends in high places – most noticeably the leader of the island council Pepin Ramirez. And together they sought to not only preserve the island from the encroachment of property developers but also to illuminate an alternative path for tourism by creating a unique set of visitor attractions across Lanzarote. As an ecologically friendly alternative to the golf courses and water parks that were then springing up in most other Spanish sun spots.

Thus the devastated landscape of the Timanfaya Volcano Park – the result of the longest volcanic eruptions recorded in history – was transformed into the island’s number one tourist attraction. By intelligent use of the same destructive forces that wreaked such havoc, the National Park at Timanfaya now serves up delicious barbecued food, cooked by the thermal heat of a volcano.

And the eerie vistas created by this explosive event are kept pristine and untouched whilst visitors are still given the opportunity to view it all for themselves – on the route that Manrique devised through the park to highlight the fascinating formations to best effect.

Elsewhere, Manrique created attractions such as the Jardin de Cactus – a monument to the amazing diversity of this spiney species, with over 1,400 different varieties on display. An inspired choice of horticulture for Lanzarote´s extremely arid climate, the Garden also serves as a direct link to Lanzarote´s past, when the Tunera cactus was grown for cochineal dye. Which was once used to colour the redcoats of British soliders. The fields surrounding the Garden are still used to cultivate this cactus today – although on a much lesser scale.

A sunken lava tunnel – the Jameos del Agua - may not sound like much of an attraction, but with his extraordinary eye for detail it was turned into an incredible sunken garden-lagoon and nightclub. And was subsequently described by Hollywood legend Rita Hayworth as the eighth wonder of the world when she visited the island during the 1970´s.

Right at the island’s northern tip is yet another of the artist’s visionary works. The Mirador del Rio is a former naval battery, converted into a striking café and look out post. Boasting truly breathtaking views across to the small neighbouring island of La Graciosa. Thought by many authorities to be the real life location of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic children’s tale Treasure Island.

In Tahiche, in the centre of the island, Manrique created a house and studio out of five underground volcanic bubbles. A creation which still blows visitors away to this day. Film star Omar Sharif was so impressed when he first set foot there that he immediately commissioned the creation of his own similar holiday home. Resulting in the construction of LagOmar (Omar’s Lake) in nearby Nazaret. Which the actor promptly lost in a game of high stakes bridge and which is now an upmarket bar and restaurant.

Manrique´s influence is in fact so pervasive on Lanzarote that it even extends to the invisible. Thanks to him there are no advertising billboards scarring the landscape. The island’s three main holiday resorts are all well contained. High rise construction is banned – with all buildings extending no higher than a Canarian palm. And all houses are painted white – creating a pleasing island wide aesthetic. Try a different colour and the island government will come along and repaint it for you – and then pop a bill through your door.

As well as Manrique´s marriages of art with nature the island also retains a high degree of natural beauty from the arid volcanic terrain of the south to the lush palm packed valleys of the North – best experienced in villages such as Haria and Maguez.

And as a result of the islands year round clement climate visitors are able to enjoy Lanzarote´s many attractions all year round. The average temperature rarely falls below 20c even in the middle of winter and rainfall is rare – with just six rain days per year.

The Trade Winds also contribute by ensuring that the Summer months are cooler than on the continent. Which accounts for the island’s popularity with holiday makers from mainland Spain – who head for the Canaries to escape the oppressive heat of high summer. As well as the King of Spain himself – who maintains a mansion just outside the resort of Costa Teguise and visits the island on an annual basis.

Combine these climatic factors with low humidity and the result is one of the best climates in the world. This creates the perfect conditions not only for beach-lovers, but sporting and outdoor enthusiasts. Making the island a magnet for sportspeople such as athletes and cyclists from across Europe – many of whom head for the impressive La Santa sports complex to enjoy warm weather training in the depths of winter.

As a result of Manrique´s efforts Lanzarote was declared a UNESCO protected Biosphere back in 1994. The first island in the world to achieve such status. And despite the fact that the popular artist died in 1992 his legacy lives on – as his unique creations continue to attract millions of visitors every year.