The island of Lanzarote gets its architectural style from its mother land, Spain. Part of the Canary Islands located just off the north-west coast of Africa, Lanzarote has maintained a very typical Spanish style which, whilst not quite as distinctive as mainland Spain, still clearly displays evidence of its colonial past.
From the 8th Century, Spain was under the Moorish rule that dominated the Iberian Peninsular. During this period of Muslim occupation, Spain's and therefore also Lanzarote's architecture was heavily influenced by these north-African and Arabic rulers. Still giving the island's distinctive style today are the Moors' thick walled and low, flat-roofed buildings, with many hiding the typical Moorish feature of a secret, tiled patio.
Whilst the hidden patios are perhaps the houses' most endearing features, most of them belong to private houses. One fine example which can be viewed by the public, however, is the Palacio de Marques in Teguise. Dating back to 1455, not only is it home to this walled patio (which, like all these hidden courtyards were built with thick, dry-stoned walls to create cool and private household areas), it is also the oldest building on the island, making it well worth a trip.
For the best examples of the Spanish Colonial style, then the old capital of Teguise which is situated to the centre of the island. This town, which was once the home to the island's most important politicians and leaders, offers plenty of fine examples of Lanzarote's colonial architecture. The Palacio Spinola boasts intricately carved shutters, and inside the superior internal balcony still stands.
A typical traditional house in Lanzarote is only one storey high, and made from thick volcanic-rock walls which were painted to white to reflect the strong sun. The woodwork (e.g. the window frames and doors) were painted using left over paint from the fishing boats, which were usually blue or green, and all these help give Lanzarote's architecture a very distinctive style.
From the 8th Century, Spain was under the Moorish rule that dominated the Iberian Peninsular. During this period of Muslim occupation, Spain's and therefore also Lanzarote's architecture was heavily influenced by these north-African and Arabic rulers. Still giving the island's distinctive style today are the Moors' thick walled and low, flat-roofed buildings, with many hiding the typical Moorish feature of a secret, tiled patio.
Whilst the hidden patios are perhaps the houses' most endearing features, most of them belong to private houses. One fine example which can be viewed by the public, however, is the Palacio de Marques in Teguise. Dating back to 1455, not only is it home to this walled patio (which, like all these hidden courtyards were built with thick, dry-stoned walls to create cool and private household areas), it is also the oldest building on the island, making it well worth a trip.
For the best examples of the Spanish Colonial style, then the old capital of Teguise which is situated to the centre of the island. This town, which was once the home to the island's most important politicians and leaders, offers plenty of fine examples of Lanzarote's colonial architecture. The Palacio Spinola boasts intricately carved shutters, and inside the superior internal balcony still stands.
A typical traditional house in Lanzarote is only one storey high, and made from thick volcanic-rock walls which were painted to white to reflect the strong sun. The woodwork (e.g. the window frames and doors) were painted using left over paint from the fishing boats, which were usually blue or green, and all these help give Lanzarote's architecture a very distinctive style.
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