Not to be missed! Our TOP 10 hits – from the absolute No. 1 to No. 10 – TOP 10 help you plan your tour of the most important sights.

PARQUE NACIONAL DE PLAYAS DE PAPAGAYO P110 TIMANFAYA P104 Named after a parrot, these Head to the “Fire Mountains” and ­beaches in the south are the most you’ll feel you’ve landed on the beautiful on . They boast moon – the region was shaped by several swimming bays, light-brown a volcanic eruption in the 1700s. sand and crystal-clear water.

TEGUISE P56 P82 A jewel from the Colonial Era. The Head to the island’s capital to island’s former capital with its ­experience a taste of urban living. well-preserved centre is a wonderful Visit the small museums, enjoy place for a stroll. some drinks, go shopping and take a walk through the streets and JAMEOS DEL AGUA P59 ­alleyways. This “eighth wonder of the world”, a complex created by César CUEVA DE LOS VERDES P64 Manrique in a collapsed volcanic This network of lava tunnels was tunnel, is one of the best-visited created by volcanic activity many ­attractions on the island. thousands of years ago – it’s a ­fantastic subterranean world. LA GERIA P108 Created by an eruption in the PUERTO CALERO P85 18th-century, the black lava fields Welcome to this watery wonder- of Lanzarote’s most significant land! You can spend time admiring wine-growing region are littered with yachts in the marina, take a day walls to protect vines from the wind. trip aboard a catamaran, or dive right down to the bottom of the FUNDACIÓN CÉSAR sea in a submarine. ­MANRIQUE P62 You can see work by César P126 Manrique and his artist friends dis- The most beautiful town on neigh- played in his former home (left). bouring . Once the The house itself, now the head- ­island’s capital, it’s home to some quarters of the César Manrique handsomely restored colonial hous- Foundation, is an architectural es that hark back to a bygone gold- masterpiece in its own right. en age. The Magazine The Magazine FIELDS of FIRE

“Suddenly the earth opened up near Timanfaya…the lava flowed towards the north as rapidly as water but it soon thickened and slowed down, flowing as if it were honey…In an instant the mass of glowing lava reached out and destroyed the villages of Maretas and Santa Catalina in the valley. The darkness caused by the mass of ashes and smoke covering the sky and shutting out the sun caused the inhabitants of to flee…” Diary of the Yaiza parish priest, Don Andrés Lorenzo Curbelo, This volcanic landscape might look monotonous at first glance, but look again – 1 September, 1730. it’s unexpectedly diverse Fortunately, Canarian volcanoes are what are known as the Hawaiian The Timanfaya eruptions lasted for another six years, the longest and largest type, which are relatively slow to burn and give plenty of notice before recorded historical eruptions in the , with 26 volcanoes erupting. The area was therefore evacuated and remarkably no one was blowing their tops, or sides, at one time or another. It is said that the sounds killed or even injured. With their most fertile fields laid waste, many of the of the explosions were so loud that they were heard in Tenerife, 250km islanders were reduced to destitution and sought to flee Lanzarote. Some (155mi) away! did, but the Spanish authorities, fearing that an empty island would be When the ground stopped shaking, about 200km² (78mi²) – one-third of seized as a strategic maritime base by rival powers (including the English), the island, including many villages and hamlets plus the most fertile valleys prohibited further evacuation under pain of death. and estates – was buried under the lava. It is estimated that the average In 1824 three more volcanoes exploded just outside the boundary of depth of lava in the area of today’s national park is an incredible 4m (13ft) – the current national park. It is said that the heat was suffocating and over twice the height of the average man. Ironically, the huge lava field, which was spewed from the volcanoes, also increased the island size by one-third. Spectacular views in the Fire Mountains The North Getting Your Bearings TOP 10 Getting Your Bearings " P56 # Jameos del Agua P59 The north of Lanzarote is home to the island’s most spectacular % Fundación César Manrique man-made sights – the man in question who made them all was (Taro de /César Manrique House) P62 César Manrique. Devotees can trace much of his life story at sites ( Cueva de los Verdes P64 within the loop that makes up the main roads of the north: His ­boyhood holidays in ; his extraordinary home at Tahíche; his great subterranean garden; his belvedere visitors’ attractions; Don’t Miss and even his last resting place in Haría. + Jardín de Cactus P65 , Haría P66 The north is not just about one man, however – travel around and you’ll discover some impressively stark ­natural contrasts contained in a very small area. These At Your Leisure phenomena include the desert-like jable around Famara, - P67 the lush oasis of the Haría valley, the stark lichen-covered . La Caleta P67 malpaís, the cultivated lava fields around the Monte Corona, / Mirador del Río P67 and the cactus fields surrounding . The north also Pedro Barba 0 Órzola P68 has the best views on the island, courtesy of its many La Graciosa 17 1 P ­miradores (lookout points). Up north: La Graciosa 68 There’s a contrast of cultures here, too, ranging from A spectacular Caleta Órzola the Robinson-Crusoe island of La Graciosa to the centros panoramic del Sebo comerciales (shopping centres) and “real British pubs” view of the 16 Órzola Mirador 15 of Costa Teguise. Quiet, dignified and lovingly restored, small island of del Río Las Tabaibitas Teguise is possibly the most beautiful small town to be La Graciosa, Yé found in the Canary Islands. If the conquistadors were as seen from Las Rositas Casas LZ-1 to march back into Teguise tomorrow, they would still the Mirador La Breña ­recognise large parts of it. del Río LZ-201 Cueva de los Verdes Máguez 8 Jameos Haría 3 del Agua Haría 12 LZ-10 Los Picachos La Caleta Arrieta 14 Tabayesco La Caleta LZ-10 LZ-1

Los Valles Mala Las Laderas LZ-402 Guatiza El Mojón Teguise 11 Jardín de Cactus Teguise 2 Teseguite LZ-1 Nazaret LZ-10 LZ-30 Las Cabreras

Fundación César Urbanización Manrique Tahíche Ciudad Jardín 5 LZ-34 13 Costa Teguise

LZ-1 COSTA TEGUISE Las Caletas

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