The days when Arrecife was a little-known zone for foreign residents are over. High property prices have meant that increasing amounts of incomers are seeking accommodation in the cheapest part of the island, with the resident populations of Italians and British more than doubling in the last ten years.
As Lanzarote’s largest town and most populated area, Arrecife is separated into several neighbourhoods, or barrios, many of which have their own particular character and facilities. These are the ones it helps to know about.
Altavista: This is the area that lies mainly to the west of the LZ-1 main road as it leads from the Open Mall towards Tahiche.
Argana: This is a large barrio north of the LZ-3 outer ring road, and its main landmark is the Dr. José Molina Orosa Hospital. The area on the hospital side is called
Argana Alta: while the houses on the other side of the main road are Argana Baja.
Centro: Central Arrecife is mostly contained by the inner ringroad (Rambla Medular) to the west and north, and C. León y Castillo and the Charco de San Ginés to the west.
El Cable: An upmarket coastal area to the west of Arrecife and somewhat separated from it.
Maneje: An area that is currently under development, located directly north of the LZ-3 outer ring road bordered by Argana to the west and Tahiche to the east.
Las Salinas: Old, central area that lies inland from Playa del Reducto.
San Francisco Javier: A barrio in western Arrecife located between the LZ-3, the Rambla Medular, just behind the Aldi supermarket.
Tenorio: A fairly new zone located opposite the Castillo de San José, near IKEA.
Titerroy: A large barrio extending from the football stadium up to the outer ring road. It contains an important health centre.
Valterra: Arrecife’s old fishing barrio is located to the east of the Charco de San Ginés, extending from the coast up to the Open Mall. It’s 24-hour Health Centre is worth knowing about.
La Vega: Inland zone composed of the grid of streets on the hill leading up from Calle Portugal to the Rambla Medular.
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