When in 1974 César Manrique, together with Pepe Dámaso, Luis Ibáñez and Gerardo Fontes, set up the “Centro Polidimensional El Almacén”, nobody could have imagined that this unprecedented and innovative artistic initiative would mark the future of the cultural panorama of Lanzarote.
This exhibition project deals with what it meant when El Almacén became a catalyst and backbone of the local artistic fabric. This project, part of the programme activities of Manrique 100’s, will be curated by Alejandro Krawietz, Mario Ferrer and Pepe Betancort.
The town of Haría is the capital of the municipality of the same name on Lanzarote.
Haria lies surrounded by Volcanos, in the north of Lanzarote, in the “Valley of the Thousand Palms” and there is no other place on the whole island where canary palms grow in such a variety.
It is said that whenever a girl was born in Haría, a new palm tree grew.
Haría was often exposed to invasions and pirate attacks throughout his history. In the most devastating of 1586, almost the entire palms were burnt down. The neoclassical buildings at the Plaza de la Constitución date the 19th century, when Haría was temporarily the seat of a constituent assembly. Especially in the 1950s, when during the Franco era many inhabitants moved their homeland in Haría towards South America, Haría suffered under a land run. To this day some of the houses are empty.
Center of the village of Haría is the long, shaded Plaza León y Castillo with laurel and eucalyptus trees. At the eastern end of the square stands the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación, reconstructed in 1956 after a heavy storm. Near the Plaza de la Constitución lies the Taller Municipal de Artesania handicraft center, where traditional embroidery, baskets and cloaks are made.
Around the ecclesiastical holiday of San Juan (June 24 to 27 June) colorful salt mats with different motifs are laid out on the streets. This happens during the day and one can observe the people at work before the next day a procession with St. Juan destroys these salt pictures.
In the cemetery of Haría you will find the grave of the artist and conservationist of the island, César Manrique, who moved to a farmhouse, which he rebuilt in 1988, and on 25 September 1992 in his old age Of 73 years he died after an car accident.
Haría is one of the seven municipalities of Lanzarote, with a total population of 4,755 (1 January 2015) on a total area of 106,58 km².
The address of the municipal administration is: Plaza de la Constitución, 1, 35520 – Haría,
Haría is know as the valley of thousand Palms, the Saturday Handcraft-Market is a good destination for a trip. César Manrique lived here the rest years of his life, you can visit his house (Museum) every day.
The former residence of architect and artist César Manrique in Haría, where he spent the last few years until his sudden death, has been a popular tourist attraction for locals and tourists since 2013.
It offers you a good insight into the life of the famous artist, who played a major role in the painting of the island of Lanzarote.
Since 2013, this building, ” César Manrique’s house ” also known as the Palm House, has been a museum.
Already in 1986 he started to design and build this property.
He renovated this old and run-down farmhouse, which he had already bought in the 1970s and created the surrounding area by keeping the natural atmosphere as lively as possible.
His modern visions of aesthetics and comfort have been combined with traditional architecture.
Unfortunately, Manrique could only experience the place until his accidental death in 1992, near the Fundacion Cesar Manrique in Tahiche.
Today the César Manrique’s house in Haría offers us the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the life of this famous artist for a while.
You can move freely through the rooms and also a part of the palm garden is accessible for visitors.
Most of the furniture and things that César Manrique used during his work as an artist are exactly as he had left them on the day of his death on September 25, 1992. The whole property – house, the atelier and the garden, separated from it, convey a particularly quiet and cosy atmosphere.
In the workshop where the artist painted back then, the original scenario can be seen.
Colours, tables with drawings, easels and unfinished paintings were stored as César Manrique left them.
There are also many information materials about César Manrique’s work and his extraordinary life.
A very interesting film shows deep insights into his special character.
It is therefore advisable to allow sufficient time during a visit to the César Manrique Museum.
Opening hours and entrance fees
The César Manrique Museum in Haria is open daily, except on public holidays.
open from 10:30 a.m. to 18:00 p.m.
Last admission at 5:30 pm
Admission: 10 €
Children up to 12 years: 1 €
Combination + César Manrique Foundation in Tahíche: 15€
Available at the Residence – Museum (Haría)
and at the César Manrique Foundation (Tahíche)
Phone: +34 928 843 138 webpage of César Manrique’s house in Haría
Castillo „San José“, Museo Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo in Arrecife, Lanzarote
This small picturesque castle is situated above the port of Puerto de los Mármoles in Arrecife. Prompted by the Spanish King Carlos III, it was built between 1776 and 1779 and only served to provide work to the local builders – not for the purpose of defence. Therefore, it obtained the name Fortaleza del Hambre (Hunger Fort). In the beginning of the 70s, the restoration of the castle was induced by César Manrique and a museum was rebuild. He also built a classy restaurant in the castle with a great view over the harbor and the sea. In the Museo Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo many Spanish works of modern art can be found – some of Manrique.
The Foundation César Manrique was originally the home of the artist; he discovered the land for himself when he saw a fig tree sticking out a subterranean lava bubble on a walk through a lava field. He then decided to purchase the property. However the owner, thinking the land is worthless, gave it to him for free. With the construction of his house and the integration of the five volcanic bubbles, Manrique brought nature and art in an impressive manner in line. Today the foundation shows like a museum how the artist lived and how he combined natural landscape with enthusiastic art.
You find the foundation 2 km south of Tahiche. At a roundabout, turn west and take the road to San Bartolomé. The Foundation is signposted. After about 200m you meet the large parking lot.
The street LZ 202 provides a direct link to the northern most point of Lanzarote, Mirador del Rio. If approaching from Cueva de los Verdes or Jameos del Agua, a short detour along the coast is recommended. Take LZ 1 towards Órzola and enjoy the beautiful coastal route. Just before Órzola is the beach – Charca de la Novia, gently sloping and sandy, perfect for families with small children. In the shallow water they can safely run around. The contrast between the white sand, the black lava rocks and the bright turquoise blue of the water, is astounding.
From the small town Órzola, Mirador del Rio is signposted and easy to find. Without the signs posts and parked cars, it would be easy to the miss this work of art. Merged with nature – natural rock formations, Manrique yet again created harmony and balance. At the heart of Mirador del Rio is a large hall, flooded with light through enormous windows. There is also a small cafe. Like a magnet, one finds oneself attracted to the light – the windows, where a spectacular view over the neighboring island of La Graciosa awaits – a perfect place to sit at a table enjoy a coffee and the breathtaking views.
From the terrace one has an even better view of “La Graciosa” and also of the salt fields of El Río. As if on a silver platter, the island with 700 inhabitants presents itself. Just two kilometers from Lanzarote and a 20 minutes crossing from Órzola, the village of Caleta de Sebo, one of the two inhabited villages on La Graciosa is visible.
Gaze a little further into the distance, you’ll see 3 more islands, all uninhabited – Montaña Clara, Roque del Oeste and Alegranza.
On the upper floor of the Mirador lies the souvenir shop, light-filled and beautifully designed.
Is it possible to receive a discount, if you buy a ticket for more than one sightseeing object on Lanzarote. Which sights are included and which combinations are possible are described to you at the entrance to Mirador del Rio.
To reach César Manrique’s Jardín de Cactus take LZ – 1 towards Órzola and turn right shortly before Guatiza. Jardín de Cactus is well sign posted. Before visiting The Cactus Garden, you may well think that cacti are just spiky, boring and unattractive plants. However The Cactus Gardenis a plethera of diversity and beauty. More than 1400 different species of cacti from all over the world, are showcased at Jardín de Cactus.
Paved pathways lead you through the cactus labyrinth, where all plants are named and the country of origin stated. In a variety of colors, the desert flowers gleam like jewels in a competition. The cacti present themselves in the most bizarre shapes and forms, sometimes as flowers, that you’re tempted to smell, and sometimes as a chair, you feel like sitting on. Stroll through the beautifully laid out complex, past small lily ponds and streams that meander through the otherwise barren landscape.
Under the shade of a giant sail, enjoy the cafeteria, or climb up to the small windmill, which is definitely worth it – one has a wonderful view over the entire Cactus Garden, and also with a bit of luck you might experience the miller processing corn into flour.
In the summer month (July, August and September) it is recommended to visit Jardín de Cactus in the afternoon if you are going there as individual visitors. In the morning many touristic groups are visiting the Cactus Garden in Guatiza.
Timanfaya National Park – The Fire Mountains of Lanzarote
The Fire Mountains of Lanzarote clarify like no other place on the island as Lanzarote has emerged and how the flora and fauna has shaped of this Canary Island. The volcanic craters all over Lanzarote show the force that is hidden under the surface of the earth and that formed the island. The area of the Timanfaya National Park, which is also known as the Fire Mountains or Montañas del Fuego, is the most recent example of this powerful natural phenomenon. In the 1730s there were several volcanic eruptions in this area, which lasted for almost six years and were documented in detail by the pastor of Yaiza. These were not the last volcanic eruptions on Lanzarote, but the most devastating. Fertile soil, villages and farmyards were buried under the lava. Where formerly people lived, hundreds of new volcanoes arose after these heavy volcanic eruptions on Lanzarote. These got the Spanish name Montañas del Fuego – in English: Fire mountains. In 1974 the Timanfanya National Park was established and is still an attraction for travellers, holidaymakers and locals.
How enormous the heat below the surface of the Fire Mountains is still today will be shown to several times during a tour through the parc. Openings in the ground can be used by skilled employees of the Timanfaya National Park to light hay bales. Elsewhere, water is poured from a bucket into a hole in the earth and immediately boiling water rises in the air at an enormous rate. A big barbecue over a hole in the ground is also impressive, as it can be seen the national parc restaurant “El Diablo”. The ascending heat is able to fry a variety of meat in a very natural way. You can then enjoy the barbecue in the restaurant. “El Diablo” was designed by César Manrique and forms the center of the national park Timanfaya. A nice panoramic view is offered to over the Fire Mountains of Lanzarote. But you should miss to do a tour in one of the air-conditioned buses through the Fire Mountains of the National Park Timanfaya. During the tour through the hills, the history of this impressive landscape is brought to you in English, Spanish and German. Even if the consequences for the people of Lanzarote at the time of the eruptions are hardly imaginable. It is also difficult to understand that over 100 different plant species are found in this barren landscape.
Timanfaya National Park on Lanzarote is easily accessible by car. This can be parked in the center at the tourist information and the restaurant “El Diabolo”.
We recommend to sit on the right side during the bus tour because from this side you will a direct view to most of the picture spots of Timanfaya National Park.
El Diablo is a restaurant located in the Timanfaya National Park and built in 1970 by César Manrique. This circular building has been carefully fitted in the countryside and consists almost entirely of lava and glass. A great attraction is the “volcanic vent grill”; dishes are grilled here at about 400°C over a hole in the ground by natural geothermal. The great heat, which can also be found in the “Fire Mountains”, is demonstrated with other spectacular performances.
In 1968, César Manrique designed his first object: “Jameos del Agua”.
The “cave-in areas” belong to the same system of lava tunnel as “Cueva de los Verdes“, which was created by the eruption of Montaña Corona. The tunnel was formed when top lava flows were already cooled down and bottom lava flows went further. At two points in the tunnel collapse Manrique staged this natural beauty skillfully with plants, light and music. When Manrique returned from America in the end of the 60s this area was very dirty.
If you climb in the Jameo “Chico”, you will get into a restaurant with natural light, from where you will have great view over the subterranean salt lake. The toilets are very worth seeing! Tiny blind albino crabs are living in this lake although they normally only live in the deep sea, where there is no light. It is believed that the crabs came up due to a seaquake. Back on the surface you can reach the „Jameo Grande “, a magnificent pool area designed by Manrique. At the end of this artificial lagoon it goes underground again: you will get into the “Auditorio de los Jameos”; which is an underground concert hall for 500 people, where regular performances are held.
Haría was often exposed to invasions and pirate attacks throughout his history. In the most devastating of 1586, almost the entire palms were burnt down. The neoclassical buildings at the Plaza de la Constitución date the 19th century, when Haría was temporarily the seat of a constituent assembly. Especially in the 1950s, when during the Franco era many inhabitants moved their homeland in Haría towards South America, Haría suffered under a land run. To this day some of the houses are empty.
Already in 1986 he started to design and build this property.
Calle Elvira Sánchez, 30, 35520 Haría, Las Palmas
