Arrecife became the capital of Lanzarote in the late 18th century, previously an honor bestowed upon Teguise.
The name Arrecife was taken from the meaning “Reef” because
of the mass of coastal reefs which lay around the coastline of the
city.The city is the mainstay of the Canary Islands fishing industry
with many canning factories situated
within the industrial areas.
This city is a charming and interesting place to visit or stay if you want a non touristic venue for your holiday with a taste for real Spanish food and culture.
The city’s main street Castillo y Leon has
a vast variety of shops and cafes and is a popular area for locals
and holiday makers for shopping but if you want some real variety
and bargains venture off the main areas and locate the many
shops tucked into the back streets.
The bars are open all day and well into the night so the habit of taking a siesta is prevalent here with shops closing around 1-2pm and re opening at 5ish.
The newly built Gran Hotel towers above the Arrecife
skyline, the only high rise building
allowed on island. The sky top restaurant has spectacular views.
The historical culture within the municipality
of Arrecife abounds.
The historical monument of La Casa de Los Arroyo
is a patriarchal residence emblematic of Arrecife and houses the
Blas Cabrera Scientific Centre.
Other interesting attractions in Arrecife include the Castles
of San Jose, home to the international 
Museum of
Modern Art,
and San Gabriel,
home to the Archaeological Museum.
Another important landmark is the Casa de la Culture Agustin de la
Hoz and the 17th century Iglesia de San Gines.
The Iglesia de San Gines, which is named
after the patron Saint of the City, was originally
a Hermitage, and in 1778 became a parish church.
El Charco de San Gines is a saltwater lagoon
enclosed and surrounded by fishermen’s cottages.
From
nearby Puerto de los Marmoles a
ferry leaves for Las Palmas in Gran Canaria and
other cruise liners sail to various exotic destinations.
The beach at El Reducto is surprisingly inviting.
It also flies the Blue Flag on its 470 meters of
golden sand. The promenade sports toilets, fresh water showers, kiosks,
telephones, and a disabled access. Further along towards Puerto del
Carmen is the El Cable beach which has about 300
meters of golden sandy beaches.Arrcife is home to the Cabildo, (the
islands Government offices) which are located at El Reducto in
a very impressive building which has just been extended.
Close to San Gabriel Castle is the Tourist Information Office housed
within a delightful round wooden building.
Arrecife Tourist Office +34 928 801 517
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