What are the Fortunate Islands known as today

Asks jimbo

A. The Fortunate Islands are now known as Lanzarote (and the surrounding small islands of La Graciosa, Alegranza, Monta�a Clara and Roque del Este y del Oeste). The name change from the Fortunate Islands to Lanzarote took place in the 14th Century when the largest island was named after the Genoese navigator Lancelotto Malocello.

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Q. Where is Lanzarote exactly

A. It is one of the largest and most easterly of the Canary Islands. It is located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa (60 miles away) and the Iberian Peninsula.

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Q. Lanzarote is well known for its beaches isn't it - what are the best ones

A. There are great beaches all along the coastline of the island - sporting both white and black sand - and these are centred on the main areas of Arrecife, La Graciosa, Har�a, San Bartolom�, Teguise, T�as, Tinajo, and Yaiza. Some of the best beaches are:

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El Reducto (Arrecife): it has a grand promenade, golden sands and a natural pond of seawater that harbours small boats. It has been famously painted by the artist Cesar Manrique. In La Graciosa some of the best beaches include Las Conchas and El Salado - both with white sand. In Haria, El Calet�n Blanco is the best beach. The stretch of beach known as Playa Honda in San Bartolom� has beautiful sands and a great aspect onto the sea, but is a bit too close to the airport. In Teguise you'll find many of the biggest resort hotels on the island (along the Costa Teguise), but also one of the best beaches at Las Cucharas. You'll find the largest number of tourists on the beaches of Tias especially at Puerto del Carmen and Playa Grande. Tinajo is home to the La Santa Sport complex - best place on the island for surfing and diving. In Yaiza, Punta de Papagayo is well known as a nudist beach and Playa Blanca and Playa Dorada are well worth visiting.

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Q. Is Lanzarote just a beach resort

A. Not at all. Tourism does support the island (in 1987 it was declared one of six universal models of sustainable development by the World Tourism Organisation) but it has a lot more to offer than its beach life.

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Some of the places you can visit on Lanzarote away from the beach include the following:

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The National Park of Timanfaya (in Yaiza)

The site of the National Park of Timanfaya was hit by volcanic eruptions in 1730-36 and again in 1824 leaving the area inhabitable to humans but a fantastic geological site where over 180 species of plants grow and thrive. The park is open every day from 10am-6pm.

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The Museum of Contemporary Art (Puerto Naos, Arrecife)

Opened in 1976, the Museum of Contemporary Art is one of the cultural high spots of the island. It is housed within the 18th Century Castle of San Jos� and is home to works by Manrique, Mir�, Picasso, D�maso and Millares.

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The C�sar Manrique Foundation (in Tahiche)

Is home to a large collection of Manrique’s work (he lived on the island) and his own personal collection of art, which includes work by Miro, Klee and Picasso. More information: http://www.cesarmanrique.com.

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Jameos del Agua (On the outskirts of Orzola, Yaiza)

Jameos del Agua lies at the foot of the volcano Monte de la Corona and is a series of connecting caves and underground tunnels developed by Cesar Manrique in 1968 to artistically show how lava flows through volcanic passages. It is home to the Jameo Grande a 100m long volcanic bubble and a concert cave that seats 600. Other interesting volcanic formations are found at La Cueva de los Verdes, also near Monte de la Corona and at El Golfo, a volcanic crater filled by underground sea water.

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The Cactus Garden (near Guatiza and Mala, Yaiza)

Is a living monument to Manrique as it is here that he filled an old quarry and recreated it into a cactus plantation.

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By Karen Anderson