"Lanzarote is an island for meditation and contemplation."

César Manrique

Lanzarote

Lanzarote, called 'Conejera' by the islanders, (who are themselves sometimes called 'Conejeros' - but don't say that to their face - it is quite a pejorative term - it has echoes of the Spanish word for rabbit) is also known as the island of 100 volcanoes. Its volcanic origin has created a landscape with actually more than 300 volcanoes - so someone can't count. It is the most eastern island of the Canarian archipelago and it is situated very close to the African coast (which is some 125km away) and north of Fuerteventura.

Where does the name come from? The island receives the name of Lanzarote from the Genovese sailor, Lancelotto Malocello, one of the first explorers of the island. The local tourist publication 'Lancelot' is named in his honour. Titeroygatra is the original name by which the original inhabitants knew the island. It means 'the coloured hills' - so-called for the red colour of its landscape.

In 1993, the island of Lanzarote was declared a Biosphere Reserve as it conserves one of the most exceptional ecosystems and volcanic landscapes in the Canary Islands. The flora and fauna have aroused special interest as regards their conservation. Lanzarote has a great wealth of endemic plants, like the Timanfaya seed (Polycarpae robusta) or the Famara plantain (Plantago famarae) which are both exclusive to Lanzarote . Man has masterfully faced adverse geographical and climatic conditions and his mark is clearly stamped on the landscape of Lanzarote, giving it distinctive characteristics. Agriculture, fishing and the exploitation of the salt marshes have all been carried out in tune with the surroundings, granting Lanzarote its own identity as regards both culture and landscape.