Arrecife is the capital of Lanzarote and the island's largest town with a population of around 45,000. This port city takes its name from the many small reefs that are found along this part of the coastline (Arrecife is Spanish for 'reef'). Arrecife's main attractions are its traditional restaurants, historic monuments and variety of shops.
Arrecife has two fortresses, the oldest being Castillo San Gabriel which dates from the late 16th century. It stands on a small islet opposite the town, and can be accessed via a short causeway. Inside the castle is a small archaeological museum where you can learn about the native inhabitants of Lanzarote. On the edge of town overlooking Puerto Marmoles is the larger Castillo San Jose, which houses an interesting Contemporary Art Gallery. The castle also has a smart restaurant designed by the great Lanzarote sculptor and architect, Cesar Manrique.
Arrecife's most dominant landmark is the Gran Hotel. When Cesar Manrique returned to the island from New York in the 1960's, he was appalled to see this modern multi-storey hotel being built on the seafront. Manrique used his influence to stop its construction, and the building was left as an empty concrete shell for several decades. The hotel has now been fully completed, but to prevent the island being swamped with high-rise tower blocks, the local government restricted all new development to a maximum of four storeys. Manrique went on to design many of Lanzarote's best-known attractions.
One of Arrecife's more unusual features is the salt-water lagoon known as Charco San Gines. The lagoon's surroundings have recently been improved, and as a result this is now a pleasant area boasting old fisherman's houses, bars and restaurants. Arrecife's main beach, the Playa del Reducto, is situated next to the Gran Hotel. Alongside the beach is a pleasant promenade lined with palm trees. There are also several bars which are ideal for a relaxing drink.
The town's main shopping street, with a variety of designer boutiques, electrical stores and cafes, is the Calle Leon y Castillo. Haggling is often necessary if you want to find the best bargains. Prices in Arrecife's supermarkets are also often cheaper than in the resorts. Nightlife in the town is generally low-key, and is usually centered on traditional cafes and bars. Arrecife is a good choice if you want to try typical Canarian cuisine.
The town's biggest celebration, the Feria de San Gines, is held in honour of the town's patron saint. Featuring traditional Canarian wrestling and some colourful processions, the Feria culminates in a huge fireworks display on the seafront on August 25th.
Arrecife is located just 3 miles (5km) from the airport. There are regular buses from the airport to Playa del Reducto and Estacion de Guagas in the town centre. The journey time is about 20 minutes, and a single fare costs 1.20 euros. There are bus services from Arrecife to Puerto del Carmen, Tias and Teguise. A taxi from the airport to the city centre costs about 14 euros.
