Yaiza

As we take up the road leading us to the Timanfaya National Park, we come past the picturesque village of Yaiza – a symphony of white and green, nestling at the foot of the Montañas del Fuego (Fire Mountains) and considered one of the prettiest villages of the island. Yaiza also represents the administrative centre of the municipality with the same name, the southernmost of the island.

Only partly destroyed by the lava flows of the Timanfaya eruptions in the 18th century, Yaiza maintained until today much of its charm and wealth of the 19th century, when rich merchant families settled here. Witness of which are some carefully restored, stately houses featuring local style architecture, set in small, beautiful gardens abounding with colours. All roads leading into the village are lined with palm trees and a recently built by-pass is a real asset to the preservation of its dignified tranquillity.

César Manrique, who loved this village and wanted the whole island to look like this, left his traces here too. He transformed a 300-year-old farm, called La Era, into a magnificent complex of buildings and outbuildings, comprising a stylishly decorated restaurant, consisting of several small, white-walled rooms, a shop, a charming courtyard and beautiful gardens. The restaurant serves mainly Canarian specialities and a nice, locally produced wine, but – even if you are not hungry – this fascinating place absolutely deserves a visit.

In the central square stands the parish church Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, which was built during the 18th century on the site of a former chapel dating back to 1699 and which in recent years has seen extensive restoration works. The interior of this triple-naved church, with white-washed façades and sloping brick roofs, features a painted wooden ceiling supported by black pillars of volcanic rock, some beautiful carving on the gallery and altarpiece and a number of magnificent 18th-century paintings. In the churchyard you will see the only one specimen of an American bamboo on the island.

At the western end of the square is the Benito Armas Cultural Centre, dedicated to the author and politician who lived here for over 60 years.

Along the main street, there are numerous craft shops and art galleries, of which the Galería Yaiza – founded by a German painter and opened by César Manrique – is the best known. This gallery displays for sale – besides numerous paintings and sculptures – also pottery, jewellery and photographs from about 30 artists, representing the enormous artistic potential of the island.