Go throughout the world and you will almost not find in any part people more beautiful nor more elegant than those of this island, as much the men as the woman, apart from being of good understanding if there were someone to cultivate them - written by the chronicler of the Bethencourt expedition.
The Norman knight named Juan de Bethencourt was lord of the Canary Islands , under the kingship of Enrique III of Castilla . In 1402, he prepared various ships and from Rochela , set sail for the Canary Islands . Together with him on the expedition were Gadifer de la Salle, Le Verrier and Bontier . King Guardarfia welcomed them all, and the group settled on the beaches of Las Coloradas. The area they inhabited was later on to become the site where the diocese of Rubicense would be established. Bethencourt returned to his homeland to obtain reinforcements, leaving Gadifer de la Salle in command. The conquest thus began, and certain to accompany such pursuits are the oppression and cruelty of the conquerors.
It seems to be that ancient civilizations had already found out about the existence of the islands, although these facts are not entirely clear. Journeys to the islands began in the 13 th century. There are texts that name them as Elysian Fields or Hesperides . In the books of Pliny, Islas Afortunadas was the name by which they were known to the Romans. A remarkable explorer is the Italian, Lancelloto Malocello (1339), who made it to the coasts of Lanzarote and gave his name to the island. The motive for these journeys was to capture slaves, since disease and war had brought labor to a standstill, and the production of orchilla (dyes) was also discontinued. With the Spanish conquest, the capture of slaves continued as it gave a sizeable income to the conquerors.
Lanzarote really has it all – history, attractions and beaches! Should you feel yourself enjoying the beach life, why not take a trip over to Spain’s Costa del Sol? A really great place to base yourself would be Malaga. That’s where the airport it so there’s literally no transfer time – you can spend all your holiday enjoying this Andalucian gem – from the active (taking up options such as Malaga and exploring nearby cities) to the relaxing – dining at the port…the choice is yours! Or try the hostels Barcelona to explore the wonderfully gothic side of Spain!
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Lanzarote > Town History
