It's impossible to escape the influence of Cesar Manrique when visiting Lanzarote. As this locally born artist and architect helped to shape the controlled evolution of tourism on his beloved island birthplace. Whilst also creating a unique series of breathtaking tourist attractions - and even making time to assist with the development of the Gran Melia Salinas Hotel in Costa Teguise.
Manrique was born in the island capital of Arrecife in 1919. He quickly fell in love with Lanzarote´s unique volcanic terrain during his childhood. Whilst his artistic aesthetic was sparked by early family holidays to the huge beach and bay at Famara in the north of the island. Where he would gaze at the reflection of the cliffs that flank one end of the beach in the rock pools and ebbing tide.
During the 1960´s Manrique was at the vanguard of the Spanish surrealist movement. Before heading to New York to exhibit his work and rub shoulders with contemporaries such as Andy Warhol. At this time package tourism was just starting to take off in Spain – as General Franco sought ways to generate more revenue and dynamise the Spanish economy.
Manrique feared that this could result in Lanzarote becoming buried beneath a swathe of high rise hotels and apartment blocks. A fate already befalling parts of the Spanish coastline and some of the largest Canary Islands. So he resolved to return to Lanzarote and campaign for a more ecologically friendly and sustainable approach.
Here Manrique found a common spirit in the form of a family friend, Pepin Ramirez. Who also just happened to be the head of the island government at this time. Together the pair campaigned to outlaw all high rise construction. With only buildings smaller than a Canarian palm tree allowed. Whilst billboards and advertising hoardings were also outlawed.
Manrique wanted to do more than just conserve Lanzarote´s unique scenery and volcanic beauty though. He accepted that tourism was inevitable – but sought to shape it in such a way that it would be as sympathetic to the island as possible. As a result he resolved to create a series of tourist attractions that would provide a real alternative to the water parks and golf courses being built in other Spanish holiday destinations. Opting instead to unite art with nature.
The first manifestation of this philosophy was the creation of the Jameos del Agua. Formerly a collapsed lava tube or tunnel, Manrique transformed this space into a huge underground grotto, replete with beautiful gardens, bars and a restaurant. The result was so stunning that the Jamoes began to garner awards and plaudits from the world of international architecture. Attracting visiting celebrities such as Hollywood legend Rita Heyworth, who described the Jameos as the “8th wonder of the world”. So placing Lanzarote firmly on the map as a fascinating new holiday destination.
His next creation blows visitors away to this day. As Manrique built a studio and home for himself out of five volcanic bubbles in the lava flow at Tahiche. Still by some distance the most unusual property in Lanzarote.
Manrique went on to create a further six similar tourist centres around the island. And in 1994, just two years after his untimely death UNESCO declared Lanzarote a protected biosphere. In recognition of both his work and the island´s volcanic terrain.
