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Arrecife Travel Guide

Travel to Arrecife - The Venice of the Atlantic

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Arrecife boasts shopping galore, beaches, parks, promenades, nightlife and all of the attendant urban hustle and bustle.

Covering an area of 22,72 square kilometres, Arrecife is situated in the east of the island of Lanzarote, south of Haría, east of Tinajo, and northeast of Yaiza.

For centuries, Arrecife, originnaly known as Puerto de Arrecife, was the main port gateway to the island due to its proximity to ancient capital Teguise and its natural deep water harbour at Los Marmoles. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the ports of the Canary Islands in general and Lanzarote in particular were plagued by pirate attacks and Arrecife was raided regularly. Teguise, some 10 kilometres from the coast, was strategically better placed to deal with this threat and carried the title of capital city of the island for some 450 years. It is only in 1852, as the importance of maritime trade grew, that this title was somewhat reluctantly handed on to Arrecife. Today, the port houses the biggest fishing fleet in the Canaries. The legacy of these pirate raids can still be seen in the two impressive castles that stand guard over Arrecife’s natural harbour.

The city's name originates from the abundance of reefs and islets along the coast (Arrecife means 'reef' in Spanish), which form a magnificent sea front promenade and provide many natural harbours.

Attractions in Arrecife

Major landmarks in Arrecife include the Castillo San Gabriel, the Castillo San Jose, the Museum of International and Contemporary Art, Cesars Palace, the Casa de la Cultura Agustin de la Hoz, Iglesia de San Gines, La Casa de Los Arroyo, Puente de Las Bolas bridge and the Reducto beach.