The Meliá group inaugurated this Thursday the renovation of Salinas, the hotel in Lanzarote that preserves some of the most important pieces in the legacy of César Manrique (1919-1992), author of its spectacular murals, its gardens and the first of its iconic "organic" pools.
Fifteen million euros have been invested by Meliá in the "rejuvenation" of its hotel in Costa Teguise, now transformed into Paradisus Salinas Lanzarote, a five-star luxury hotel, the result of which has been presented by the president of the Balearic tourist group, Gabriel Escarrer.
The president of Meliá has also expressed his satisfaction with the implementation in Europe of the Paradisus brand, which debuts in the Canary Islands with the Salinas de Lanzarote and with the renovation of the Melia Tamarindos de San Agustín, which also opens this Thursday after another major renovation under the name of Paradisus Gran Canaria.
The original Las Salinas hotel bears the signature of the architect Fernando Higueras (1930-2008) in most of its rooms, but the gardens, swimming pools and murals located in the reception area and the hotel restaurant are the creation of César Manrique.
In his speech, Escarrer highlighted the value of the intervention of the late artist from Lanzarote in the construction of the hotel in 1977 and stressed that the renovation has opted to enhance the connection of the client with the destination, something that he is convinced will be helped by both the legacy of Manrique and a prominent presence in its gastronomic offer of zero kilometer products.
In April 1994, the Cabildo de Lanzarote launched the declaration of Asset of Cultural Interest, with the category of Historical Garden, of the interior and exterior gardens of the Hotel Las Salinas, at the proposal of the Historical Heritage Service.
The construction works of the hotel began in 1974 and Manrique's work consisted of the execution of various interior murals and the design of the pool and interior and exterior gardening.
His idea was to integrate aspects of the natural world through allusions to the sea in the murals, to nature, through the planting of preferably endemic flora; and to the environment, through the use of its own materials, such as rofe (volcanic slag) or natural stone that gave the building a very peculiar image.
According to the hotel chain, the Paradisus by Meliá is presented as the reinvention of the all-inclusive concept and marks the arrival in Europe of the new brand, combining an all-inclusive luxury experience with connection to the destination.
The hotel offers 282 rooms and villas, a 1,800 square meter pool, unique gardens and seven gastronomic proposals.
