Lanzarote is one of a number of islands which collectively make up the Canary Islands. There has been a lot of building development over recent years throughout the islands. So what makes Lanzarote stand out from the other islands?
There are 4 main Canary Islands – Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. Lanzarote is the smallest, and certainly is different from the others. This is due to the influence of Cesar Manrique, a local artist, sculptor and architect, who was born on the island in 1919. Manrique felt that he had to transform the island before the increasing amount of tourists overwhelmed and disfigured it irreversibly. His influence can be seen all around the island in the form of sculptures, museums and tourist attractions, but perhaps most of all, in the building development.
Tenerife has been allowed to develop in much the same way as the Spanish Costas i.e. upwards! Most of the new development is apartment blocks concentrated in the southwest corner where the infrastructure is finding it hard to cope with the influx of tourists and residents. Detached villas tend to be large and expensive. Fuerteventura is going much the same way with major development proceeding in the north and down the east coast. This again is taking the form of apartment blocks and linked bungalows i.e. aiming at the cheaper end of the market. There are some more expensive villas around the new golf courses at Caleta de Fuste. Gran Canaria has a lot less residential property. Developments tend to be centered around purpose built resorts with hotels and apartments. There are very few private villas.
Building in Lanzarote, however, is very tightly controlled, and is still influenced by Manrique