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Fundación César Manrique

Fundación César Manrique in Tahiche, Lanzarote

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.

Ticket price for children under 12 years: 1€

You can buy a combi-ticket and receive a discount for the foundation César Manrique in Tahiche and the house-museum in Haría.

MON-SUN 10am-6:30pm

Taro de Tahíche – C/ Jorge Luis Borges, 16. Tahíche, 35507. Lanzarote

 +34 928 84 31 38

 www.fcmanrique.org

 fcm@fcmanrique.org

Cueva de los Verdes

Cueva de los Verdes – The Green Caves, Lanzarote

Approaching from LZ 1, follow the signs for Jameos del Agua, shortly before you’ll see a signpost for Cueva de los Verdes. Guided tours begin on the hour, sometimes more frequently depending on the influx of visitors. Tours are held both in Spanish and in English. However the English translation unfortunately is only a brief summary of the more informative Spanish version.

As you leave the heat, light and noise of the surface, and descend fifty meters into the cool, dimly lit, and watery underworld, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported into a different reality. This is a one-hour magical adventure through the underground cave system filled with light and sound installations.

Cueva de los Verdes translates as The Green Caves or Caves of the Greens?, which they are not. The name of the cave system dates back to the Verde family, who in the 17th century discovered the caves and used them as a hiding place from pirate attacks. Your imagination will run wild as you meander through the winding labyrinth of caves, feeling as though you’re journeying to the centre of the world.

During the tour you’ll be taken to the Auditorium – a spacious cave with excellent acoustics and a small stage, seating 200-300 people. Every few weeks classical concerts are held. Sit comfortably back and listen to quiet background music. At the end of the tour there a surprise, but you needn’t worry it’s not pirates.

In the summer months (July-September) it is recommended for individual visitors to visit The Green Caves in the afternoon, so that crowds can be avoided.

MON-SUN 10am-6pm

In summer (July-September) until 7pm

Last tour at 5pm (6pm)

Timanfaya National Park

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.

MON-SUN 9am-5:45pm

In summer months until 7pm

Jameos del Agua

Jameos del Agua, Lanzarote

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.

Do not get into the water. It is absolutely not allowed!

SUN-FRI 10am-6:30pm

SAT 10am-10pm