If you are going to renting an apartment in Lanzarote next summer you might be wondering where there is to visit when you are there. Well, the capital city of Lanzarote is Arrecife and that is a good place to start with.

Arrecife is a lively port city that took over from Teguise as the Island’s capital. It is located on the south coast of the island, nestled between Costa Teguise and Puerto Del Carmen. Arrecife is also the home to the island’s airport and a slight diversion on the way to Puerto Del Carmen will give plane enthusiasts a real treat as they can stand almost at the end of the runway and, dependent on wind direction, have the airplanes passing low level over their heads as they take off or land.

Arrecife is home to half of Lanzarote’s inhabitants and the location of Lanzarote’s only building of above the regulation couple of floors. From miles around the island’s only high rise building can be seen as a giant over the city. Cesar Manrique’s vision for the protection of the island denied the building of any more such buildings and for 30 year this hotel, the Arrecife Gran Hotel, was a mere shell mid construction as authorities debated completion or destruction.

As previously mentioned, the traditional capital was Teguise, some siz miles further inland. This was selected as protection from the regular pirate raids of old and was the capital of the island for 450 years. It was only in 1852, when the importance of the port was recognized for the seafaring trade that the capital status was moved to Arrecife.

This piratical past is still in evidence today as there are two castles protecting the harbour. Although, these days they mainly stand and watch the biggest fishing fleet in the Canaries setting to sea and returning with their catch.

Playa Blanca is Lanzarote’s most southerly tourist resort. It is also a more recently developed resort than Puerto Del Carmen and Costa Teguise and there is a continuing program of building work still in progress, but many tourists still find it quieter than its two earlier resorts. It is just under 40 kilometers from the island capital of Arrecife and a little under 35 kilometers from the airport.

Playa Blanca started life as a fishing village and more recently has seen service as the stopping point for the ferry to near by Fuerteventura. There is even talk that the harbour will be enlarged to take in cruise ships to allow in more visiting tourists.

The Playa Blanca coastline consists of a 6 mile wide bay, split into 3 smaller bays, including the best known of the three bays, Papagayo. This has the effect of making neat beaches with white sand that are suitable for swimming and soaking up the sun’s rays. Scuba diving is also possible with the English speaking dive centres dotted around. Although the aquatic life is looks pretty much the same as the whole of Lanzarote, diving over the white sands does make an unusual change.

There are a wide variety of restaurants and shopping opportunities in Playa Blanca, but nightlife is said to be a little tamer than its sister resorts near to the airport. Most of the holiday accommodation in Playa Blanca consists of holiday villas rather than hotels and apartments and there is a good number to choose from. Finding villas Playa Blanca is commonplace and there are an excellent choice of villas available.

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Olvera is often announced as the ?best of the white towns?. With a population of 1200 it is larger than the majority of pueblos. Olvera is really in Cadiz Province but if staying at a Casares Del Sol Apartment it is reachable for a very special day out.

The pueblo has the traditional Spanish much loved white washed houses, steep narrow streets, churches and castle. It has more than enough for the holiday visitor. Those in the area in August will be treated to the local fair which is renowned for being the most lavish in the region. It lasts for some 5 nights, going on until approximately 5am, singing and dancing, side shows, stalls – it has the lot! In the daytime the visitor can expect to be treated to football matches, clay-pigeon contests and novice bullfights to name but a few.

How Olvera came to be so named is a bit of a mystery. Some say it is very simply to do with the number of olive trees in the area. Giving perhaps some credence to this theory is the fact olive oil is one of the area’s main agricultural products. Indeed it might be that simple but others say it is to do with its Arabic history when it was called ?Wupira?. The castle was part of Granada?s line of defence. In 1327 the pueblo was conquered by Alfonso XI.

Wherever it got its name from the pueblo is most certainly steeped in history and there has been a pueblo in its location for some 12 thousand years.

In 1983 Olvera was declared officially to be of Artistic and Historical buildings. This is a far cry however from the 1800s when the pueblo was the home of outlaws and murderers! Being such a good place to take refuge from the law a famous regional saying emerged into folklore ‘Kill your man and flee to Olvera!’ Thankfully those days have long gone.

The pueblo is seen these days by many to be of great religious significance. A monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus perched on a natural outcrop is the focus. Many a believer has crawled on hands and knees in pilgrimage. It is to do with the vow to the popular sanctuary of the Hermitage Church of ?Nuestra Se

Malaga province is perhaps best known for its whitewashed towns, but climb higher to find the more traditional and pretty ones. In the hills you will find delightful pueblos. Some bear the name of ?Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos?, and there are up to 60 in total.

For a short tour take in Casares, going via Manilva on the MA 539, the Gaucin road. Or from Bahia Casares and past the complex of Casares Del Sol . Casares rises dramatically from a gorge. The view from the top of the village looking over the houses is breathtaking and is one of the most photographed villages in Spain!

On the steep approach road you will see viewpoints from where in the right conditions you can see peregrine falcons and kestrels soaring on thermals.

Casares is steeped in history and has Roman and Moorish influences. At the top is a Moorish Fort. The museum, albeit small is well worth a visit. Look for the metal gate in the churchyard from where captive soldiers from the Spanish civil war were reputedly thrown unceremoniously into the gorge.

From the peak of Casares one can see the loft heights of the Sierra Bermeja and in the opposite direction the valley of the Rio Genal.

Casares is best approached on foot heading down from the top of the village by the Restaurant La Terraza. The food and wine is excellent, but expect to pay tourist prices. Park your car either by a bar or at the car park on the bend, (you will see the Casares dust cart parked there) and climb down one of the footpaths that lead into the village.

On the way down wonder at the way the locals have adapted. For example they have left bench seats out with the ?down slope? legs cut short so that one sits level whilst resting!

Stop awhile in the main square, Plaza de Espa