Arrecife is the capital of Lanzarote. The majority of visitors do not take the time to get to know the biggest town on the island even though it is the most important centre of trade and administration and plays a huge role in the life of the island.
Unfortunately, there aren’t very many sights to discover in Arrecife and therefore our visit to the capital was rather short.
When looking for a central but free car park it is recommended to drive down the promenade. Passing the Parque Municipal and the Castillo San Gabriel on the right leads to a junction into the marina after around 300 meters. Turn right, there will for sure be some parking spots available.
First, we visited the Castillo San Gabriel. It sits on a small island and is accessible via two bridges. Pedestrians can walk over using the Puente de las Bolas (Bridge of the Balls – referring to two stone orbs on the pillars of the bridge). It’s an old drawbridge and one of the town’s landmarks.
The castle was erected in 1590 after the town was attacked multiple times. Today, it houses a small museum which makes for a nice little change. The view from the roof is also very nice.
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: 09:30 – 13:30
Tuesday to Friday: 09:30 – 16:00
Admission:
Free
From the castle, we continue to the natural port in the centre of Arrecife – El Charco de San Ginés. Little fishing boats lie at anchor, a charming spot.
Only a few streets further down is the Iglesia de San Ginés. The three-naved basilica is next to a small plaza. The wooden Mudéjar-style ceiling is carried by lava rock columns. After a little stroll through the pedestrianised area in the city centre, our short visit of Arrecife came to an end.
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