Do you dream of living on Lanzarote ?
Lanzarote is the eastern most of the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 125 km off the coast of Africa and 1,000 km from the Iberian Peninsula.
The island is part of the province of Las Palmas, and is divided into seven municipalities:
Arrecife:
Arrecife is the modern capital and port. This is where half the inhabitants live and work and the place where the most comprehensive shops are to be found – although, don’t raise your expectations too high, dear shopaholics. Paying no attention to the tourist, the capital is strictly functional, although the harbour does offer quite a pleasant aspect. At the heart of the town is San Ginés Church, worth a visit for those to whom such things as atmosphere, religion or peace appeal. Being the capital, this is where most of the busses terminate and stem from, but be aware that the timing of such busses is much more concerned with how villagers might wish to get to and from work than how you, the tourist, might rattle around the island. Apart from this and taxis for short distances, the organized tours or hire cars offer the best means of transport. A clue as to the nature and ethic of the native people can be had from the bus timetables that have three different modes: workdays, Sundays and festivals. Está bien!
Geography
Altitude:
Lowest: Atlantic Ocean
Centre: 30 m
Postal code: 35000
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Haria:
lends its name to a wider municipality that basically encompasses the northern wedge of Lanzarote, but the village itself is home to only around 2,000 inhabitants.
It lies nestled in the aptly named Valley of 1,000 Palms which is surrounded by the island’s tallest mountain range — the Risco de Famara, which stands at around 670 metres at it’s highest point.
This location begins to explain why the region stays so green, as the altitude attracts cloud and overnight condensation from which the plant life below can draw water. But this alone still doesn’t account for the proliferation of palm groves here.
Indeed, much earthier influences account for the valleys fertility.
During the 17th and 18th centuries villagers celebrated the birth of a new baby by planting palms — one for a girl and two for a boy, possibly in reaction to the burning of most of Haria’s trees and plants by marauding pirates during raids in the 1570’s.
Either way, this politically incorrect planting policy has now created an incredible spectacle that is one of Lanzarote’s most stunning sights.
Demographics
The population is 4,741 ([1], 2003), some of whom live on the island of Graciosa. The total land area of the municipality is 106.58 km², giving a population density of 44.48/km²; population growth from 2001 to 2003 stood at 9.62%.
Geography
The west of the municipality is largely mountainous, with much of the western coastline rising steeply a little way inland. Numerous miradors (viewpoints) on this high ground offer some of the island’s most spectacular views, the most well known being theMirador del Rio which is a popular tourist attraction. To the southeast the land is low-lying and largely used for agriculture, with many small beach resorts along the coast. The northeast of the municipality is largely uninhabited, having been buried approximately 3000 years ago by the eruption of the Montaña Corona which formed the inhospitable Malpais de la Corona. This eruption also produced extensive hollow lava tunnels called jameos, some of which have been developed into two of the island’s most-visited geological attractions: the Cueva de los Verdes and the Jameos del Agua.
View from the LZ-10 road between Teguise and Haría, which is visible in the distance
Sites of interest
- Mirador del Rio
- Jameos del Agua
- Cueva de los Verdes
- Montaña Corona
Villa Lola Y Juan description
Villa Lola y Juan has been restored and converted into a rural hotel. It offers superior hotel…
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San Bartolome:
San Bartolomé is the geographical centre of the island of Lanzarote and an important agricultural region where vegetables grow in the sandy “jable” soil, unique to Lanzarote.
The main crops that grow in the region are sweet potatoes, watermelons and squash.
San Bartolomé is one of the seven municipals of Lanzarote and therefore has a town hall, ayuntamiento, headed by the local mayor. The main town, also called San Bartolomé, is of traditional canarian style with buildings of interest that include the Casa Mayor Guerra, the 18th century home of former military Governor of Lanzarote.
Also close to the town hall itself is the Tanit Ethnic Museum, which contains a display of working and cultural life of Lanzarote over the past centuries.
On the outskirts of the town one will encounter the wonderful home of the late César Manrique. The beautiful building now houses a foundation, Fundacion Cesar Manrique, keeping alive the wonderful legacy of a truly brilliant artist.
Caserio de Mozaga – Rural House Hotel ~ San Bartolome – Lanzarote
Historic Rural Lanzarote Hotel, Renovated 1998, Elegant rooms, Internet, Restaurant, Car Park
The hotel was built in 1806 and completely renovated in 1998. The hotel has succeeded in maintaining its rural character reflecting the atmosphere on Lanzarote at the beginning of the 19th century. The hotel offers a total of 1 single room, 5 double rooms and 2 suites on 2 floors. Amongst the hotel facilities count a foyer with 24-hour reception, a hire safe, a library, a public Internet terminal and restaurant. A beautiful inner courtyard and an extensive estate also feature at this hotel. Those arriving by car may make use of the car park or garage Room and laundry services are also available.
The finca is situated on the outskirts of the winegrowing village of Mozaga, the geographical and rural centre of Lanzarote. There are countless local plants to be found in the hotel grounds. In 9 km, guests will reach the beach.
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Teguise
Teguise is the old capital of the island although, today, it is barely more than a village. Early islanders chose to live in this elevated position so that they could look out for slave traders and pirates. It gave them the chance to flee to the volcanic caves in the north where the could hide. It contains the island’s most elegant buildings and has the most atmosphere although, its transformation into a giant and sprawling market on the one day a week that it truly vibrates makes it a place of contrasts. Do go, if you like to haggle. There is not a a great deal to see when this town is quiet – and it impossible to see when it is not quiet. Locals, however, still regard this as the island’s true capital and relegate Arrecife to port and shopping status. Teguise was a town that knew nobility and gave birth to much of the Canarian folk culture, including its unique instrument, the timple. (England, by the way, has a similar culture, having given birth to the tipple: music to many ears.) The main square is marked by an ancient, white-capped church, Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe; thankfully it is also known as San Miguel!
 Teguise was a town that knew nobility and gave birth to much of the Canarian folk culture |
Teguise is certainly worth a visit and, because transportation on this island is very much focussed on the need of the locals as opposed to the visitor, a Sunday visit is perhaps the most practical. It is easy, enough, after all, to flee from the hubbub of the market stalls and enter a cool sanctuary for a drink or snack: the way to find true character-building. Try the local wine, for example, and wonder at how they ever grow vines here. As for food, you’d be surprised how the traditional ‘English breakfast’ of bacon, egg and all things cholesterol, has infiltrated into the farthest reaches of the eating establishments on this island. Who said the UK doesn’t export much these days?
Farmlands dominate the rest of the municipality. César Manrique was born in the area. The insect of the island is the cochineal which carmine, a dye is extracted from.
The municipality also comprises a number of neighbouring islands including Graciosa, Alegranza, Roque del Este, Roque del Oeste and Montaña Clara.
Geography
Location:
Latitude: 29.05 (29°3′) N
Longitude: 13.55 (13°33′) W
Altitude:
Lowest: Atlantic Ocean
Centre: 360 m
Postal code: 35530
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Tias
The village of Tias is one of the oldest on the island which in spite of the influx of foreign residents has maintained its local character. As well as the long term residents from mainly northern Europe there is a growing number of holidaymakers slowly finding their way to Tias, especially with the appeal of the new golf course in the municipality.
The village’s history ca
n be traced back to the time of the native Guanches people before the Spanish took control of the land. Volcanic eruptions in the early eighteenth century forced farmers from nearby villages off their land and some resettled in Tias which promoted agricultural development in its environs. Together with the prosperous fishing industry the local economy of Tias became relatively wealthy. This growing importance of Arrecife denied Tias the opportunity to enjoy further economic growth and the village experienced significant decline as many workers were attracted to the capital.
Tourism proved the saving grace for the village as the first package holiday tourists arrived at the nearby airport to stay in the new resort of Puerto del Carmen in the late 1970s. Today you’ll find a pleasant mix of the old and the new as this attractive village comes to terms with its new role as a permanent home to many foreigners and a popular place to visit for the masses of sunseekers arriving all year round to enjoy the idyllic climate of Lanzarote.
If you’re in Lanzarote during the month of June you’re in luck as Tias celebrates two great festivals, the Festival of San Antonio (1st-13th) and San Juan (20th-24th) when no expense is spared on fireworks and bonfires. Numerous cultural events take place during the year including musical performances in the local theatre and in the village bars. The village holds quite an appeal for writers and artists including the Portuguese writer Jose Saramago who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998.
The main industry, by far, is tourism. Lanzarote’s largest tourist resort, Puerto del Carmen, is entirely in the borough of Tías, and was the location of the first hotels ever built on the island.
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Tinajo
Yaiza
Lanzarote’s climate ranges from mild to hot during the year with temperatures in the summer ranging between 30 degrees C and 35 degrees C during the day and about 20 degrees C at night. It’s winter daytime temperature is between 20 degrees C and 25 degrees C and the nighttime temperature is between 13 degrees C and 16 degrees C.
The island has it’s own international airport, Arrecife Airport, through which some 5.5 million passengers travel every year making tourism the mainstay of the islands economy for the past 40 years.
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The British constitute the largest group of non-Spanish nationals living on Lanzarote. According to research recently released by the Cabildo de Lanzarote.
The figures, which were compiled by Spain´s National Institute of Statistics reveal that 5,069 Britons are officially registered as residents on the island. Followed by Colombians – with 4804 residents – Germans with 3186 – and the Moroccans with 3,065.
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In a double dose of good news for Lanzarote´s tourist industry low cost flights operator Monarch has announced the addition of extra flights to Lanzarote across this Christmas and New Year period in order to cope with an increase in demand. Whilst newly formed airline Kiss Flights has confirmed that Lanzarote will be one of their main flight destinations starting for the summer season of 2009. Monarch has already up weighted their flights to theIsland of
Fire throughout October in order to meet an increase in demand. With extra services available every Thursday from Gatwick airport. And now they will also be laying on extra flights across the festive period too.
According to Monarch´s Liz Savage:” The additional flights are great news for Monarch customers looking to get away this Christmas. Early indicators show that our customers are considering the Christmas getaway as important as ever and are continuing to snap up Monarch’s low fares in their droves. With 64 additional flights being added into the flying programme offering in excess of 12,000 further seats, getting away for Christmas has never been easier”.
The extra flights are also great news for the owners of villas and holiday apartments in Lanzarote. Not least as they come at a time when some airlines are reducing their services to other destinations. And they will de departing from major UK airports such as Manchester, Birmingham and Gatwick.
Elsewhere newly formed flight only operators Kiss have evolved from the ashes of Freedom Flights – which was the flights only arm of XL Holidays. Under the aegis if Gatwick based flight brokers Meridian Aviation.From May 2009 they will be offering a once weekly service to Lanzarote from Gatwick with a scheduled departure time of 05.00. With return services leaving Arrecife airport at 10.05. Seat costs at the time of writing were coming in at around £200 for a return in May on the Kiss Flights website. Both announcements will be welcomed by owners of holiday property in Lanzarote. Who expect to benefit from an upsurge in business from independent travellers and tourists.
