César’s Palace (No, Not That One)

César’s Palace (No, Not That One)

Most people would not voluntarily live in the middle of a remote lava field. Artist César Manrique decided to build his dream house there.

Manrique’s home is on the tiny island of Lanzarote, one of the Spanish Canary Islands off the coast of northwestern Africa. That’s where the world’s longest volcanic eruption took place. For six years, starting in 1730, lava spewed forth from a series of volcanoes there. The molten rock submerged a quarter of the island.

At the time this cataclysmic event forced many islanders to flee for new lives abroad. Eventually Lanzarote´s volcanic landscape became one of the island’s major assets. Travelers began to flock here to see the island’s eerie landscapes and spent volcanoes. Tourism set the island on a path to be submerged again—this time beneath a sea of high-rise hotels.

And Lanzarote would have gotten to that point, overrun by package tourists, if it weren’t for César Manrique. Manrique became enamored with Lanzarote’s beautiful landscape as a child during the 1920s. He incorporated its stark colors and textures into his work as an artist. When he saw his beloved island’s nature threatened, Manrique advocated regulations that forbid any structure on the island taller than a palm tree. He also sought to show the islanders a more ecologically friendly way to live when he built his own house in 1968.

Visitors enter his home through double doors which open directly onto a small courtyard, where the top of a palm tree can be seen poking out of one of the volcanic bubbles below. Before descending a volcanic stone staircase into the five volcanic chambers.

Each of these living spaces has an individual character. The White Room for example pays homage to the work of fellow artists such as Goergia O´Keeffe and Barbara Hepworth. Whilst the Red Room features Manrique’s life sized wooden sculpture Man and His Shadow. And feels like stepping into an underground 70s lounge or into an artistic version of The Hatch in Lost.

After his death in 1992, Manrique’s house became the headquarters for a foundation that opened the former artist’s abode to the public. Tours are available daily from 10am to 7pm.

Manrique’s home is not the only cool attraction on Lanzarote. At Timanfaya National Park you can tour spectacular volcanic landscraps by camel. Mirador del Rio is a café built into the rock above the island’s northern coast. And Jameos del Agua is a cave complex containing a theater, swimming pool and nightclub that César Manrique himself declared to be the world’s most beautiful. For all the details check out the Lanzarote Guidebook’s site.

LEARN MORE | BOOK LANZAROTE HOTELS | FREE LANZAROTE GUIDEBOOK

Thanks to Nick Ball, of Lazarote Guidebook, for guest writing this post.

Related posts:
Real Places That Resemble a Dr. Seuss Illustration
5 Amazing Towns on Perilous Cliff Sides
Thailand’s Best Islands
Useful Websites While Traveling

house7 César’s Palace (No, Not That One) follow me on pinterest button César’s Palace (No, Not That One)

house1 César’s Palace (No, Not That One) follow me on pinterest button César’s Palace (No, Not That One)

house2 César’s Palace (No, Not That One) follow me on pinterest button César’s Palace (No, Not That One)

house3 César’s Palace (No, Not That One) follow me on pinterest button César’s Palace (No, Not That One)

house4 César’s Palace (No, Not That One) follow me on pinterest button César’s Palace (No, Not That One)

house5 César’s Palace (No, Not That One) follow me on pinterest button César’s Palace (No, Not That One)

house6 César’s Palace (No, Not That One) follow me on pinterest button César’s Palace (No, Not That One)

lightgrey César’s Palace (No, Not That One)


white César’s Palace (No, Not That One)
lightgrey César’s Palace (No, Not That One)

Around Lanzarote Island

Jameos del Agua:

jameos2 César’s Palace (No, Not That One) follow me on pinterest button César’s Palace (No, Not That One)

jameos3 César’s Palace (No, Not That One) follow me on pinterest button César’s Palace (No, Not That One)

jameos1 César’s Palace (No, Not That One) follow me on pinterest button César’s Palace (No, Not That One)

Mirador del Rio:

mirador César’s Palace (No, Not That One) follow me on pinterest button César’s Palace (No, Not That One)

Timanfaya National Park:

park1 César’s Palace (No, Not That One) follow me on pinterest button César’s Palace (No, Not That One)

park2 César’s Palace (No, Not That One) follow me on pinterest button César’s Palace (No, Not That One)

white César’s Palace (No, Not That One)


white César’s Palace (No, Not That One)

white César’s Palace (No, Not That One)




SPOTCOOLSTUFF Travel reviews unusual hotels and restaurants, great attractions, cool travel gear, places with amazing views and all manner of travel destinations with a WOW! factor. Because we live on an incredible planet! Get our latest travel posts by email . . .

    Awesome Curacao vacations — up to $530 off!
    Check out the freebies offered too, including airfare credits, breakfast and room upgrades!

Save $530 Time left:
Book Now!
Offer Closed!



PARTNER WITH US     |     BE OUR GUEST TRAVEL WRITER    |      SUGGEST COOL STUFF FOR US TO REVIEW     |     INFO FOR TOURIST BOARDS

Other SCS SectionsHot Travel CategoriesFave Travel Posts
Cool Tech & GadgetsBest hotel room viewsCaribbeanBest Sandals in Jamaica
Cool Architecture & DesignFamily travelEuropeBest Wheeled Carry-On Luggage
Cool WebsitesHoneymoon resortsFloridaWorld's Coolest Airlines
Cool EntertainmentUnusual museumsSoutheast AsiaThe Honeymoon Resorts of Bora Bora