Arrecife
Historic castles. A city centre beach. And the best shopping on the island. Lanzarote´s capital city of Arrecife is a cosmopolitan conurbation with plenty to offer visitors to the island.
Arrecife is home to around one half of the islands total population of around 127,000 people. Taking on the title from the former inland capital of Teguise in 1852. As trade, a coastal location and transportation links became of vital importance to Lanzarote´s on-going economic development.
Today the city is the commercial and business hub of the island. Revolving around the bustling main street of Calle Leon Y Castilllo – which is the where visitors will find the highest concentration of shops and retail outlets anywhere on Lanzarote.
Whilst the majority of the buildings in and around Arrecife are of modern design the capital still boasts some interesting patches of historic architecture. Such as the warren of streets located in and around the inland lagoon called El Charco, (which translates as The Puddle in Spanish). Where the Church de San Gines and the buildings around the old El Recova market are all worthy of exploration.
Right in the heart of the city at the seafront end of Calle Leon Y Castillo visitors will find the Castillo San Gabriel, which was built in 1590 in order to protect Arrecife from pirate attacks. As privateers such as Drake and Raleigh laid siege to the island. Today the fortress is home to a small exhibition of artefacts dating from the times of the pre-Spanish island inhabitants, called the Gaunche.
Whilst just 2km away lies a second impressive castle – the Castillo de San Jose. Known locally as the Castle of Hunger this fortress was built in the 19th century as a sort of proto public works scheme. In order to alleviate the widespread hunger and poverty that prevailed on Lanzarote at that time.
Today, somewhat ironically, the basement of the Castillo houses one of the best restaurants on the island. Which was designed by the ubiquitous Cesar Manrique and which overlooks the main ferry terminal at Porto Naos. Where cruises to Lanzarote dock and depart.
Arrecife´s other main building of note is the Arrecife Gran, which is the only high rise building on the island. Widely regarded as one of the best hotels in Lanzarote, the Arrecife Gran only opened its doors as recently as 2004 after the original edifice had lain abandoned for years. As its seventeen storeys contravened the strict laws governing controlled construction on the island.
The Arrecife Gran lies right next to the beach of Playa del Reducto – which provides a palm fringed playground for the city’s residents.
