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 Manriques vision for the island. A lot of the new development is residential villas, many with private pools, and any new building has to conform to strict regulations all buildings have to no more than 3 storeys high and whitewashed with either wood, green or blue windows and shutters. Walls are only allowed to be a certain height as well, and where possible, the natural volcanic rock of the island is used. Green areas are used to separate different developments. A green area is a strip of land which is filled with palms and other Canarian plants, the idea being to try to blend in the new buildings with the natural landscape. There is only one golf course on Lanzarote, whereas on Tenerife there are many. Golf courses are seen as not being part of the natural landscape, although another one is under construction near Tias.

Far from being Lanzagrotty, Lanza is lovely!