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The small volcanic island of Lanzarote has long been a hot favorite with European tourists. As this speck of Spain, located off the coast of West Africa, enjoys great weather all year round.  Thanks to its location on the same line of longitude as parts of Mexico, Florida and the Bahamas.

Lanzarote is the most easterly of the seven Canary Islands – and amongst the most unspoiled.  Thanks to the influence of a locally born artist and architect called César Manrique.  Who managed to secure an island wide ban on high rise development just when tourism started to take off in the early 1970´s.

Manrique was concerned with conserving Lanzarote´s unique and surreal volcanic scenery – which was created by a series of violent eruptions in the 18th and 19th centuries.  These totally remodelled the interior of the island – carpeting an area around 200km square in lava, punctuated by the peaks of spent volcanoes.

Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote

At the time these events caused widespread devastation.  But today the region – known locally as the Fire Mountains – is one of the most treasured National Parks in Spain and Lanzarote´s number one tourist attraction.  Drawing close to one million visitors a year.

As well as great weather and unique scenery Lanzarote is home to close to 100 beaches.  Some of which are amongst the most breathtaking in Spain.  Such as the huge bay at Famara on the island’s rugged North West coast.  And the interconnected series of bays and coves at Papagayo in the south.

Tourists will also find that the island is dotted with picturesque and historic towns and villages too, such as Teguise.  Which was the first settlement established by Spain in the Canaries in the early 1400´s.  And which is home to some fantastic examples of colonial architecture such as the Palacio Spinola – once the home of a wealthy nobleman and now a popular house museum.

As well as working to conserve Lanzarote´s unique volcanic scenery César Manrique also created a series of seven visitor attractions across the island.  All of which work in harmony with Lanzarote´s twisted volcanic terrain.

The most impressive of these projects is undoubtedly the Jameos del Agua.  Where Manrique transformed a collapsed lava tunnel into a stunning underground concert venue and nightclub.  Which was declared the “Eighth Wonder of the World” by visiting Hollywood star Rita Heyworth.  A remarkable feat of engineering and creativity which really helped to put Lanzarote on the tourist map for the first time.

Nick Ball is a freelance writer and contributor to ExplorerPod.com. Visit the Lanzarote Guidebook website where you can find out more about the Island of Fire, download a free Guidebook and book holidays in Lanzarote direct online.