Playa Blanca

Holidays in Spain have long been a hot favourite with British tourists. Many of whom head for the South of the Iberian Peninsula in search of apartment and villa holidays in Costa Blanca. Or alternatively opt for the year round sunshine of the Canary Islands, in destinations such as Tenerife and Lanzarote.

The Canaries are located around 100 km off the coast of what was once the Spanish Sahara in West Africa. And were first conquered by the Spanish crown in the early 1400´s. Before rapidly emerging as a vital strategic outpost in the nascent Empire. Providing a launching pad for Columbus's expedition to the Americas and a staging post for Spanish galleons traversing the Atlantic with African slaves and treasure from the New World.

Lanzarote is the most easterly link in the Canarian archipelago and welcomes around 1.5 million tourists every year. The majority from the UK - which is a four hour flight from the sole airport on the island at Arrecife. Tourism is concentrated in the three main resorts of Costa Teguise, Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen. With Playa Blanca in the south of the island offering the largest selection of holiday villas in Lanzarote.

Like the rest of the islands Lanzarote is blessed with a temperate climate. Which generates average temperatures of around 21 Celsius all year round.
Whilst rainfall is minimal - as you'd expect - given the close proximity of the Sahara desert.

Lanzarote Volcano

From 1730 to 1736 the island was subjected to a series of massive volcanic eruptions. Which physically enlarged the surface area by around one quarter. As lava swept away villages and destroyed valuable farmland. Leaving 300 new volcanic peaks in its wake.

These events caused widespread hardship and deprivation. With many Lanzaroteños facing a bleak choice between emigration and starvation. However today the islands volcanic landscapes have become it´s greatest asset. As the Timanfaya National Park - located at the heart of the eruptions - is by far the most popular attraction on the island. Boasting some of the most surreal scenery on the planet. With mile after mile of twisted lava shapes and spent volcanoes drawing close to one million visitors every year.

Cesar Manrique

This volcanic legacy is evident in many other facets of island life too. Local farmers use chippings, called picon, to mulch and protect their grape vines.
Local fiestas celebrate the cessation of the eruptions. And the colours and the textures of the volcanoes feature prominently on the canvases of the local artist César Manrique. One of the most prominent figures in the Spanish modern art world.

Manrique also helped to shape the face of tourism on the island. As he campaigned successfully against high rise construction and advertising billboards whilst also developing a series of unique visitor centres that work with Lanzarote´s natural beauty, rather than against it. The best known of which is the Jameos del Agua - a collapsed lava tunnel transformed by Manrique into a a subterranean tropical gardens and grotto.

Author: Nick Ball is has lived on Lanzarote for eight years and is the editor of Lanzarote Guidebook, the in-depth island tourism guide. You can download a copy, free of charge at www.lanzaroteguidebook.com