History

Lanzarote’s Weird & Wonderful Wildlife

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Some of Lanzarote’s wildlife is as strange and wonderful as anything you might see in the world. Here’s a selection of some of the strangest and most spectacular sights that you may be lucky enough to see.

The Mystery of the Queseras

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David Riebold visits the oldest examples of design on the island, the mysterious Queseras carved by ancient native islanders. Photos by Clare Carter Osborne.

Lanzarote’s traditional instrument

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The timple is the most famous of Canarian traditional instruments – a tiny five-stringed guitar whose piercing, high-pitched melodies give an unmistakeably Canarian touch to folk groups.

Lanzarote’s Deep Historical Ties to Texas and the United States

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Did you know that the historic streets of San Antonio, Texas, were once walked by a mayor from Teguise? A little-known chapter of Lanzarote's history, stretching back almost three centuries, reveals a deep and living connection between the island and the United States, particularly in Texas and Louisiana.

Lanzarote – The Island of Elephant Birds

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Scientists have established that the aepyornis, or elephant bird – one of the largest birds ever to exist – lived on Lanzarote four million years ago.

When the world’s most famous doctor landed on Lanzarote

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Lanzarote’s otherworldly landscape has long made it a favourite for filmmakers seeking a dramatic, alien backdrop. But for fans of the iconic British series Doctor Who, the island holds a special place in television history as the real-world location for a pivotal chapter in the Time Lord's adventures.

When The Stone Roses came to Lanzarote

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Before they conquered the world, The Stone Roses took a trip to Lanzarote. The resulting videos, filmed for "Fool's Gold" and "I Wanna Be Adored," were a surreal fusion of cool swagger and otherworldly beauty that would help define an era.

The Sci-Fi film cult classic that was filmed on Lanzarote

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Lanzarote's volcanic terrain is a magnet for filmmakers. While many were drawn to its raw beauty, it was Wolfgang Petersen who harnessed its alien landscapes for a major feature: the sci-fi epic Enemy Mine.

Famara’s 1970s Scandi Style Homes

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The Bungalows of Famara are a reminder of the original foreign tourism pioneers on Lanzarote and the Canaries – not the British nor the Germans, but the Scandinavians.

The history of Lanzarote’s Egrets

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Egrets are now a common sight on Lanzarote, but if you’d asked a few decades ago, locals may have replied “Egrets? We’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention.”