When you work hard day-in day-out it is so easy to forget about the rest of the world and become glued to your job. It is important to take a step back from time to time and gain some perspective. With its stunning natural landscape and original character, Lanzarote is the perfect place to do this.
Through the course of this article we will endeavour to show you why you are more likely to gain inspiration in this island idyll than sitting in an office. Read on and look forward to booking that trip away with Cosmos Holidays.
Volcanic origins
Much of the apparently alien landscape of Lanzarote is due to the fact that volcanoes erupted on the island as recently as the 18th and 19th centuries. With very little natural erosion many of the contorted shapes produced by the cooling lava can still be seen to this day.
The awe inspiring Atlantida Tunnel was created in this way and at seven kilometres long stretches for the furthest of any such tunnel in the world. It includes the La Cueva de los Verdes and Jameos del Agua, which are both well worth a visit.
Beaches
Despite its volcanic past, Lanzarote, unlike other Canary Islands, does not have black-sand beaches. Instead it has large stretches of white sand, such as that at Playa Blanca, where there was once a small fishing village but is now a bustling resort.
Alternatively Papagayo and Caleton Blanco are also good options for those wishing to relax and forget all about their work emails, spreadsheets and other duties. The contrast between the rock and the sand is quite dramatic.
Rich history
It is thought that the first people to have inhabit the island were of Berber descent from North Africa before Genoese seafarer Lanzarotto Malocello landed in Lanzarote in the 13th century. It was then seized in the name of Spain in 1402 by Jean de Bethencourt.
What followed was a 200-year period in which Lanzarote was raided repeatedly by Europeans, Turkish and Moroccan forces. By the end of the 16th century this tempestuous interlude had left the island with just 300 people living on it.
Then when volcanic eruptions in the 18th century covered a third of agricultural land on Lanzarote, most of its inhabitants left for neighbouring islands. However, it soon became apparent that the lava fields were good at retaining the moisture from infrequent bouts of rain and supported the root systems of plants.
Most famous son
Much of the natural beauty of Lanzarote that still remains can be attributed to Cesar Manrique, the artist born in Arrecife in 1919. Having travelled extensively round the Mediterranean he had seen first hand the ways in which mass tourism could ruin a place.
This led to a crusade headed by him in the 1960s to ensure that his beloved birthplace would not undergo the same treatment. He also gathered together a group of friends to leave a cultural legacy and the seven institutes of art, culture and tourism on the island are mainly down to him.
Malvasia wines
Due to the aforementioned volcanic nature of the soil, Lanzarote is the premier wine growing island of the Canaries. Here you will find Malvasia wines, grown from a grape that was first transported from Crete in the 18th century and cultivated in Lanzarote ever since.