Arrecife: The Capital of Lanzarote

Arrecife is the capital of Lanzarote and, with a population of 40,000, the biggest town on the island. Near enough half the population of the island lives here.

The name Arrecife means reef and refers to the coral reef which lies quite near to the coast at this point. At the time when deep sea fishing was still an important industry, the harbour at Arrecife was the home of the Canary Islands fishing fleet.

A lot is being done at this moment to improve the town and make pedestrian precincts, and above all to renovate the promenade and extend it.

The promenade has already been improved, flowering trees have been planted, and the centre of the town is acquiring a face-lift and general clean-up. Slowly more and more, what was just a jumble of odd buildings, is developing into a town with pleasant streets and squares, shops or lovely cafés, restaurants and tapas bars - where you can find all the busy people of a city.

On the outskirts of Arrecife, especially on the northern side of the town, there are industrial complexes with furniture stores, cash-and-carry supermarkets, building firms, carpentry workshops and other industries.

Not far from Arrecife is the airport, which has been completely rebuilt and which was opened at the end of 1999. lt is a modem, international airport, with planes leaving and arriving daily, going to and from the other Canary Islands, the Spanish mainland, as well as the main cities of Europe. All the well-known charter and schedule flight companies are represented.