Around the world there are lots of wonderful places to enjoy a holiday.  But not many of these destinations cannot come close to Lanzarote for cultural attractions.  As this small Canary Island located off the African coast is the birthplace of a famous artist called César Manrique.  Who created unique cultural attractions and who exerted an enormous influence on the islands development.

As a popular holiday destination for the beach crowd Lanzarote has an often missed rich cultural background as well for anyone wishing to explore it,and with an excellent choice of Lanzarote villas to rent there will be no shortage of holiday accommodation if you book early enough

It´s impossible to visit Lanzarote without coming across the name of César Manrique.  His presence is ubiquitous – right from the airport which he had a hand in designing through to the white colour that all of the apartments and holiday villas in Lanzarote are painted.  And it also thanks largely to him that the island is not covered in high rise buildings and apartment complexes.  Whilst advertising billboards are also noticeable by their absence.

Born in Arrecife, the islands capital, in 1919, Manrique fell in love with the island from a tender age.  Thanks to the fact that his parents owned a holiday home in the beautiful northern beach resort of Famara, where they would all spend long summers together.  With the young Manrique exploring rock pools and splashing in the tide, where he would delight in seeing the reflection of the Famara cliffs that flanked the bay.

Just as many youngsters do, Manrique had itchy feet and wanted to travel the world and study art in Europe and elswhere in the world, where he could gain a much wider experience. He did exactly as planned and became a champion of the island.

Whilst the travel industry was developing well but still in it’s early days, it was generally the middle and upper class that enjoyed the luxury of travel with a majority of the population holidaying in their home countries. However the travel industry was about to go through a heady paradigm as the package holiday market was born making travel affordable to the masses. Of course the problem here was one of infrastructure and accommodation, and around the world a manic construction effort began to ensure there was enough accommodation to house the rapidly growing throngs of travellers eager to explore the attraction of foreign travel which was an extreme threat to the natural balance of Lanzarote.

Manrique was appalled at the potential threat to the islands culture when he returned from his travels but at the same time, Manrique also accepted that his fellow islanders could not continue to live off just fishing and agriculture alone.  So Manrique also started work on the creation of a series of seven cultural attractions that would become the mainstay of the island tourist industry to this day.  Encompassing brilliant works of architecture such as the Jameos del Agua and the Mirador del Rio.  Whilst also campaigning tirelessly for a retrained and sensible approach to construction.

Further details about available Lanzarote self catering apartments can be found on the Lanzarote1.com website.

The little island of Lanzarote offers big value for money for anyone seeking a self catering holiday on a budget.  As it is home to a very large selection of privately owned accommodation – normally available at prices that just cannot be matched in other parts of Spain.  As here owners enjoy a year round rental season – as well as a reliable flow of tourist guests.

Along with the other six Canary Islands Lanzarote enjoys a fantastic semi-tropical climate, delivering clement weather whatever the time of year. Thanks to its geographical situation close to the Tropic of Cancer and just off the coast of Africa.  This is married with very low levels of rainfall, together creating a dry and arid terrain – desert like in places - which is largely devoid of trees and vegetation.

Lanzarote - Not Just A Volcanic Rock

But the island also has plenty of more conventional beauty away from the volcanic region, where it is much like many other island destinations.  There are around 100 beaches adorning the coastline and visitors can choose from three modern and well appointed holiday resorts. Which is also the location most of the top choices of Lanzarote villas ,holiday apartments and holiday bungalows.

The main resort on the island is called Puerto del Carmen – which is situated in close proximity to the main airport and which boasts plenty of good quality beaches.  This in part explains its popularity with visitors – who have been enjoying holidays here since the 1970´s.  Whilst also boasting a great selection of bars and restaurants and plenty of nightlife.

Typically Holiday Holiday villas in Puerto del Carmen are in demand as result – with prices starting at about the €500 mark for properties with private pools.

Second in terms of visitor numbers to Puerto del Carmen Playa Blanca is the islands fastest growing destination.  And this has expanded enormously since the first hotels and villas were built here back in the 1990´s, the resort has become a byword for good value accommodation. With standard holiday villas in Playa Blanca with swimming pools available for rent from as little as €400 per week – depending of course on the time of year. A selection of Playa Blanca holiday villas are available at this website.

Lanzarote can be enjoyed as a holiday destination at any time of the year.  But some months are better than others – with the most unreliable weather usually experienced during February and March.

Not all holiday activity is restricted to these main areas and additional resort areas include Costa Teguise which is actually just about the most northerly resort around the island and is certainly just a enjoyable 12-15 minute cab or coach ride from the main airport, and not forgetting the islands most up-to-date high end resort of Puerto Calero which is probably unashamedly targetted to the exclusive end of the family vacation market place having an superb selection of boutiques. and naturally as probably would be expected from a resort of this stature a remarkable 400 plus berth marina if you’re lucky enough to be able to vacation here on your current very own personal motor or sailing luxury yacht.

If you visit the island don’t just head for the beaches though as this wonderful island has a wealth of attractions that you simply must see for example The Cactus Garden -The Cactus Garden is a plant lovers paradise.  And sensively it is located right in the heart of what was once Lanzarote´s cactus country.  As this plant was originally grown by islanders in order to attract the cochineal beetle, which was in turn dried and crushed and used as a natural dye-stuff.