Guatiza & Jardín de Cactus
Some kilometres further north of Costa Teguise you will reach the small towns of Mala and Guatiza, whose charming Ermita de Santa Margarita (chapel) well deserves a visit. Surrounded by vast plantations of prickly pear, host to the cochineal beetle, this area belongs to the last cochineal production refuges on the Canary Islands. As a compensation for the ever-declining cochineal industry, vines, enclosed by small walls to protect them from drying winds, are cultivated more and more in this area.
On the outskirts of Guatiza, situated at the very centre of the cactus fields, you will find César Manrique’s last landscape monument – the Jardín de Cactus – an extensive cacti garden, where outside of the entrance Manrique’s 8 m (26 ft) tall green metal cactus is towering in front of the entrance. Established between 1987 and 1992, this former quarry – where local farmers used to dig out volcanic ash for their fields – was laid out in form of a giant amphitheatre dominated by a restored white windmill, still demonstrating today how gofio (ground and roasted cereal) is made. On narrow terraced fields covered with picón (coarse volcanic ash) grow more than 10,000 cacti specimens of all shapes and sizes, representing round about 1,400 species from all over the world.
In the lower part features a miniature water garden and remnants of the quarry can still be seen here.
Everything in this garden carries Manrique’s signature, from the volcanic stone sculptures – clearly revealing the artist’s play with phallic shapes – set between the succulents and the metal lattices to the door handles and as well as the stylish restaurant and bar.
There is also a souvenir shop and some of his paintings are on exhibition in the entrance area. And… even if you don’t need to use the bathrooms, pay them a visit! It’s worthwhile! The Jardín de Cactus is open daily from 10.00 to 17.45 hrs.
• TIP •
See our Lanzarote Map for a closer look
On the outskirts of Guatiza, situated at the very centre of the cactus fields, you will find César Manrique’s last landscape monument – the Jardín de Cactus – an extensive cacti garden, where outside of the entrance Manrique’s 8 m (26 ft) tall green metal cactus is towering in front of the entrance. Established between 1987 and 1992, this former quarry – where local farmers used to dig out volcanic ash for their fields – was laid out in form of a giant amphitheatre dominated by a restored white windmill, still demonstrating today how gofio (ground and roasted cereal) is made. On narrow terraced fields covered with picón (coarse volcanic ash) grow more than 10,000 cacti specimens of all shapes and sizes, representing round about 1,400 species from all over the world.
In the lower part features a miniature water garden and remnants of the quarry can still be seen here.
Everything in this garden carries Manrique’s signature, from the volcanic stone sculptures – clearly revealing the artist’s play with phallic shapes – set between the succulents and the metal lattices to the door handles and as well as the stylish restaurant and bar.
There is also a souvenir shop and some of his paintings are on exhibition in the entrance area. And… even if you don’t need to use the bathrooms, pay them a visit! It’s worthwhile! The Jardín de Cactus is open daily from 10.00 to 17.45 hrs.
• TIP •
See our Lanzarote Map for a closer look
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