The Spanish island of Lanzarote has been a popular tourist spot since the 1980s after package holidays were introduced to UK jetsetters during the late 1970s. Since then, Brits have flocked to the island to soak up the sun.
These days Lanzarote can be a tad overcrowded, but not in the town of Teguise, situated on the North East of the island.
Teguise was the capital of Lanzarote until 1847, and it has some impressive historical landmarks.
The most remarkable of these is the Castillo de Santa Bárbara ( Saint Barbara’s castle), now the Pirate Museum, the Palacio Spinola (Spinola Palace) located in an enchanting XVIII century house, and the 16th-century church of Our Lady of Guadalupe and San Francisco’s convent (Saint Francis’ convent).
Lanzarote has recently been in the news regarding the anti-tourism protests sweeping the Canary Islands – but Teguise is off the beaten path and isn’t swamped with tourists like the rest of the island.
The main square of the town holds a market every Sunday selling jewellery and clothes amongst charming coffee shops and bars.
There are many interesting museums with information on the island’s heritage, so you can learn about the culture of the Canary Islands and get a feel for what life was like at the beginning of colonial times.
Teguise is home to one Michelin-star restaurant, and that’s Palacio Ico. This fancy eatery prides itself on local and traditional food and is housed in a hotel by the same name. The hotel structure is a stunning traditional white stone building, with origins as far back as 1690.
During September the daily temperature can reach a very warm 29c while in October it can still get as hot as 26c. There’s even the nearby Costa Teguise, which includes a lovely sandy beach and a lively nightlife scene if you fancy something more hedonistic.
The historic town of Teguise is a brilliant antidote to the more touristy parts of Lanzarote, and it’ll provide culture and relaxation while the sun’s rays beam down on you.
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