Arrecife Lanzarote
Arrecife is the oldest town on the island of Lanzarote and it is also the
capital of the island. It took over as the capital from the inland town of
Teguise towards the end of the eighteenth century and Arrecife is currently the
commercial and administrative centre for Lanzarote.
Going back over the centuries, Arrecife had strong maritime origins still in
evidence today, by way of its ports which serve the other Canary Islands, Europe
and the mainland of Africa.
The population of the town accounts for more than fifty percent of the people
living on the island as a whole and this is rising rapidly. The main industries
of this area are agriculture and tourism.
The word "Arrecife" in Spanish means reef and this is where the town got its
name from, the many reefs along the coastline. This area is still popular today
with its splendid promenade where you can enjoy a pleasant seaside stroll.
The skyline of Arrecife is dominated by the tallest hotel on the island, called
the Grande Hotel. If you are eating out whilst in Arrecife, it is well worth a
visit to the rotating restaurant at the top of the hotel, where you can take in
spectacular views of all over the island whilst eating your lunch or evening
meal.
There are several interesting places to visit in Arrecife which is more or less
at half way point along the east coast. If you love to lie on a beach, you will
find the Playa Reducto an excellent place to take in a spot of sunbathing and
swimming.
If you are more into sightseeing then take a look at the Castillo de San Jose,
is a 17th Century fortress which now holds a superb selection of modern art or
the archaeological museum called San Gabriel, both of which will be of great
interest to the art and history lovers amongst us. The 17th Century church of
San Gines, an important historical landmark of Lanzarote is also located here in
Arrecife. Named after the patron Saint of the town, the area around the church
becomes alive with festivities at many times of the year, especially at Carnival
which is usually in February or March but dates do vary, so if you want to see
the Carnival make sure to check out the dates before you go.
El Charco de San Gines is a man made lagoon in Arrecife where the fishermen
leave their fishing boats and you can walk alongside the fishermen's cottages
and see them mending their nets before they next take to the seas.
Nightlife in Arrecife consists mainly of traditional Spanish style restaurants,
cafes and bars. There are few touristy areas, so if you want to get away from
the bustling nightlife of your resort, Arrecife is an excellent choice to sample
the local cuisine and typical Canarian food and entertainment.
Shopping in Arrecife is a must for all your duty free goods to take back home at
the end of your holiday. The main shopping street in Arrecife is Calle Leon Y
Castillo where you will find everything from designer boutiques to shops selling
a wide range of video, audio and electronics in general. Don't forget to haggle
for a good price – the shop keepers just love it and it is all part of the
shopping experience.
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