Museums in Lanzarote

Lanzarote offers several museums and art galleries, places to learn about the island’s culture.
Within the cultural range offered by the island of Lanzarote we should note the great concern shown by all its inhabitants for the creation of an environment closely linked with and enhancing all artistic manifestations
In this respect, the influence and hardworking nature of the people of Lanzarote have been decisive in promoting and creating the necessary incentive for the island’s cultural development, as is well reflected in the museums, centres and galleries which tastefully present the works of art of internationally prestigious artist, thus making Lanzarote one of the major cultural centres of the Canary Islands.

Museum of International Contemporary Art - Arrecife

Museum of International Contemporary ArtSmall but top-quality collection of modern paintings and sculptures by leading artists housed in a beautifully renovated 18th century castle - the Castillo de San José, located in the outskirts of Arrecife.

 

Castillo de San José

 

The Castillo was originally built to repel pirates and alleviate poverty on the island in the wake of the major volcanic eruptions of the 1730s. Built between 1776 and 1779 on the orders of the Spanish King Carlos III, the construction of this appealing semicircular fortress served at that time – apart from the military purpose – predominantly to provide work for the islanders. This was a tough time with many people struggling to find a living following the volcanic eruptions earlier in the century, which had devastated the island, especially the fertile land. This is also the reason why this fortress became known as the Fortaleza del Hambre (Hunger Fortress).

Its commanding position on a cliff top overlooking the sea, made the Castillo de San José vital to the defence of the island’s capital and its port against the many pirate raids, which all the Canary Islands were exposed to at the time.

 

Museums

 

Opening hours:
Museum: daily from 11.00 to 21.00 hrs (free entrance)
Restaurant: 13.00 to 15.45 hrs and 20.00 to 23.00 hrs
Bar: daily from 11.00 to midnight.

Monumento al Campesino

The Monumento al Campesino is located in the geographic centre of the island in the municipality of San Bartolomé, and it is a public tribute César Manrique paid to the effort of men and women working the fields, and facing the worst conditions in order to be able to bring the land to life. Wine and food products from Lanzarote are nowadays internationally renowned thanks to the effort Manrique made when paying this tribute.

 

At the Casa-Museo al Campesino

 

The Museo del Campesino complex, is a visual and emotional display, that pays special attention to the wit, courage, bravery of local farmers. It consists of a series of buildings that look like traditional homes, with white walls and green wood, combining the most characteristic elements of the different areas of the island. The Museo is guarded by the majestic Monumento a la Fecundidad: a fifteen-metre tall sculpture created by Manrique using boat water tanks, and iron and cement objects assembled. A magnificent symbol of avant-garde art that became an iconographic symbol on the island.

At the Casa-Museo al Campesino the aim is to maintain traditions and to make local knowledge available. There are handcraft workshops about the island and educational activities celebrating local festivities.

Opening hours
Centre: 10:00 to 17:45 h. and in the summer, 10:00 to 18:45
Cafeteria: 10:00 to 17:45 and in the summer 10:00 to 18:45
Restaurant: 12:00 to 16:00

El Grifo Wine Museum - Masdache

Masdache is a village wine from the center of the island of Lanzarote. The village ... Masdache is best known for its Wine Museum hosted by Bodegas El Grifo

The Wine Museum is the oldest winery of the Canary Islands and one of the ten oldest in Spain. The current owners are the fifth generation of a family who bought it from another family in 1880. It´s placed in the protected zone of “La Geria” which was covered with lava and ash after the volcanic eruptions from 1730 to 1736. Inside, you will find wine presses, pumps, crushers, stills … etc., everything from the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.

 

wine museo

 

The museum is one of the most visited in Spain (60,000 visitors per year).
The Wine Museum was developed under the aegis of the ubiquitous island born artist and architect César Manrique around eighteen years ago. Along with the bodegas highly distinctive griffin logo. And is divided into a number of zones in what was once the estates bodega – enabling visitors to gain a step by step insight into the production process from grape to glass.

Wine production has long been centrally important to the economy of the island – and boasts a rich heritage – as vines have been under cultivation on Lanzarote for at least 500 years. In fact, back in the 16th and 17th centuries sweet Canarian Malvasia wine was one of Europe´s top tipples.

Opening Time
Museum: from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00p.m.
Daily (including bank holidays)