For the tourist who wonders what to visit in Lanzarote, the Lanzarote island is beach, sun, nature and art. The fourth largest island in the Canary archipelago is many things, but above all a living artistic work, and all thanks to the vision of the painter, sculptor and artist César Manrique. Throughout his life, the Lanzarote creator achieved the perfect combination between ecology and art, winning the World Ecology and Tourism Award in 1978. His island, Lanzarote, was his canvas and thanks to his peculiar way of integrating sculpture and nature, today it is full of works by César Manrique, which can be enjoyed on a unique tour for art lovers.
Who was César Manrique?
César Manrique was born in April 1919, in Arrecife, the capital of the island. He spent his entire childhood there, surrounded by fine sandy beaches such as Famara beach, and summers that lasted an eternity. After a few young years in which he even participated in the Spanish Civil War, in 1964 he decided to leave everything and travel to New York City to rediscover the artist within him.
This experience in the city that never sleeps was a turning point in César Manrique's life. After two years among asphalt, his love for Lanzarote, his land, returned to him, and he decided to turn his native island into one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Thus began the journey of this artist who has made Lanzarote enjoyed by lovers of nature tourism and by the most cultured. Would you like to take a walk through the places to visit in Lanzarote with César Manrique?
Jameos del Agua: a cultural center, a cave and a saltwater lake
The tour begins in the north of the island, specifically in the municipality of Haría, where there is a natural oasis converted into a cultural and artistic center by the mind of César Manrique. This natural space is formed by an aquatic cave produced by the collapse of the roof of a volcanic tube. The jameos or openings can be visited perfectly, but above all, it is worth highlighting the auditorium created by César Manrique and the first cultural and tourist center created by the artist.
Volcanic tunnel of the Jameos del Agua, the first cultural center created by César Manrique
In addition, the Jameos del Agua is one of the best excursions in Lanzarote, especially for its biological and ecological importance. In this underground space lives an endemic species: the albino and blind crab. A species very sensitive to noise and light, but that can be observed when visiting the area.
El Mirador del Río, the best views of Lanzarote
Fifteen minutes by car from the oasis of Jameos del Agua is a viewpoint in the Risco de Famara. The Mirador del Río, made in 1973 by the artist, is the perfect enclave to spot a great unknown that shows that we still don't know everything about the Canary Islands: the Chinijo archipelago. A group of small islands that make up the largest marine reserve in Europe. In short, a pleasure for the eyes.
From the viewpoint, which has a restaurant and large windows, there is more to see in Lanzarote: you can see La Graciosa and the islets of Alegranza, Montaña Clara, Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste. And as in every work by Manrique, the symbiosis between environment and building further perfects the experience at the Mirador del Río.
El Taro de Tahíche, the César Manrique Foundation
After a short drive spotting the brown and gray landscape of the island, you reach the center of the artist's life: César Manrique's house, now converted into a museum and where the homonymous foundation publicizes the work of the Lanzarote artist. Private works and his own collection and dream spaces are just some of the elements that can be enjoyed in one of the musts of the island of Lanzarote.
The house museum delights art and architecture lovers. White walls and a design that blends perfectly with the landscape, invites those who visit it to breathe easy and live a moment of peace. It is the living example of what César Manrique's work has done for the Canary Islands.
The Cactus Garden, a great option when the weather is not good
One of the most surprising places on the island and an essential to visit in Lanzarote is the Cactus Garden. A good plan for when the weather is not good and some clouds cover the views of the Mirador del Río. This garden, built by César Manrique, is located in the space of an old volcanic sand quarry (material used by farmers in the area for cultivation) and is home to more than a thousand different species of cacti and more than ten thousand plants from all over the world, which find the best way of life in the land of Lanzarote.
Anyone who enters this immense cactarium is invaded by a sensation of majesty, thanks to the amphitheater-shaped design that César Manrique gave to the place.
Wind Toys, Manrique's fun and colorful sculptures
César Manrique's work in Lanzarote is not limited to architectural works. And the multifaceted Canarian artist also left his mark in the form of mobile sculptures, known as Wind Toys, which interact with their natural environment with their beautiful movements when the wind blows.
There are several Wind Toys in different parts of Lanzarote. The most famous are located in the Tahíche roundabout, the César Manrique Foundation, the Avenida de las Playas roundabout, in Puerto del Carmen, or even at the airport.
