"Nature's freedom has modelled my freedom in life as an artist and as a man."

César Manrique

Timanfaya

When you visit Timanfaya National Park you will be stunned by the still beauty of a landscape shaped by fire during the six years of intense volcanic activity in the 18th Century. Like the Phoenix, the Mountains of Fire rose from the ashes of the ill-fated village of Timanfaya, wiped out by the eruptions that turned one third of the island of Lanzarote into a frozen sea of lava.

Even today, just below the surface the earth simmers at around 400ºC - hot enough to cook. César Manrique took advantage of this natural oven when he designed “El Diablo”, the only restaurant in the world that taps volcanic heat to cook your meal.

The volcanic eruptions of 1730 lasted six years and buried the most fertile terrain on the island. Yet out of the ashes came a novel form of viticulture in the area around La Geria which uses the ash and volcanic semi-circles of rock to protect the vines. This is one of the most compelling examples of how wine is pressed from adversity.