The Art, Culture and Tourism Centers of Lanzarote propose a complete visit to the MIAC of the Castle of San José.
From the moment you arrive, the walk around the exterior of the Castle reveals a beautiful garden and the majesty of the building restored by Manrique. From the uncovered roof of the castle you will contemplate the entire Arrecife marina. Enjoy the contemporary art exhibition of the Museum and what better way to end the visit by tasting the rich gastronomy of the panoramic restaurant.
The restaurant is launching its new menu, emphasizing the quality of local products, innovation, creativity and careful service. In a special atmosphere, you will have the tasting menu available, as well as menus for children and suitable for vegetarians. A perfect visit to enjoy with family or as a couple.
About the MIAC Castle of San José
The museum, located in the old military fortress of the Castle of San José, is located in the capital of the island, Arrecife, in the Puerto Naos area.
Built between 1776 and 1779 by order of King Carlos III in order to alleviate the difficult situation the island was going through, it was popularly called "The fortress of hunger" and later used as a strategic point for the defense of the island.
On the initiative of César Manrique, who personally directs the remodeling and conditioning works of the building, it was established as a museum in 1975 in order to "promote, gather and exhibit the most significant works of modern artistic creation." Two hundred years after the construction works of the fortress began, on December 8, 1976, the Castle of San José opened as the International Museum of Contemporary Art, MIAC, maintaining the internal structure of the building with hardly any modification and resulting in the annexes being the most notorious interventions: the museum restaurant, an open space to the bay of Arrecife through the immense window that runs along the entire facade to the sea.
At the same time, the I International Plastic Arts Contest was organized, having an important impact in our country since the exhibition brought together an important number of internationally recognized artists, including Picasso and Miró, constituting the germ of one of the best art collections of the second half of the 20th century existing in the Canary Islands.
The activity of the MIAC is organized on the two floors of the building, locating the MIAC Collection on the upper floor together with the Canarian Artists and Sala Lasso rooms - dedicated to the Lanzarote artist Pancho Lasso - and the temporary exhibition hall on the ground floor, where the program of activities focused on a reflection on contemporaneity through different lines of work is carried out.