César Manrique Foundation — Attraction in Teguise

Art, ecology and lava tubes! An insight into César Manrique's genius and legacy. Whether you're into art and architecture, interiors and retro design, saving the environment, volcanoes, or just being inspired, it's all here in the former home and studio of Spanish artist (born in Arrecife) and local legend Manrique (1919-1992). Plus you will start to see how the legacy of his art projects and activism is everywhere in Lanzarote. The place is full of his art, including colourful sculptures, and his architectural and interior design style. The whole place is built right into the lava field of one of the most recent eruption sites (only about 280 years old), so you can walk through lava tunnels converted into space-age 1970's-style passageways, and he has created semi-underground rooms with a dramatic "inside-outside flow" of lava rock penetrating the space under picture windows looking out over the primordial landscape. There are also gorgeous décor details at every turn, a series of differently-styled relaxation spaces in the many lava bubbles. There's also his art collection, documents of his life and fascinating films and videos. By day's end I certainly understood what a cool dude César Manrique was - a visionary, artist, designer, fighter, citizen of the world, and passionate about 'soft' tourism, environmentalism, and responsible and well-designed development. This is only one of many iconic Manrique sites. Some others to see include Jameos del Agua (with its blue lagoon, cave of albino crabs and incredible concert hall in a volcanic cave), the award-winning Jardin de Cactus (cactus museum), and his house and artist studio in Haria, in the north...

Spectacular place. A fabulous insight into how Cesar Manrique lived and enjoyed life from his house containing lots of exhibition pieces and information about his life. This place is very well set out and you build a picture of this great modern artist as you move about his home. I absolutely love his ethos and belief in the connection to nature to find what is beautiful wherever you are and create it into further beauty. He absolutely did this with his creations and local materials and landscape.

This exhibition v his other house gives you an insight into the more hedonistic side of him. The only insight I couldn’t get a grasp on was whether this side was a feature of his earlier life or whether it was just not portrayed at his other house. He created such amazing entertainment spaces that I just stared at and longed for!

The exhibition contains lots of interesting photos and magazine articles, as well as audio clips (with English subtitles).

I was totally absorbed for the 60-90 mis we were here and so wanted some of his furniture, design in my own home. It’s amazing some of the design of the lava cut out rooms he created.

Worth getting a combo ticket for Euros 17 (Instead of 10 Euros each) and visit...

Overall quite disappointing experience and I would recommend to triple check before going. The house is lovely and interesting... But for some reason they decided to remove all the art and just expose the artists life with pictures and quotes... Him with Warhol. Him with the king of Spain, etc. We read in advance, and it should have moved back to being an art museum again in April 2020... But it didn't I guess. As a result, it feels like you're visiting the museum of a celebrity... Without having been exposed to what the celebrity did to become one. We couldn't find any place where to appreciate manriquez art in the island, either, and the lady in the museum didn't have any good tips to share. Last but not least... The gift shop -where I hoped I could at least see some art prints and buy something to remember the artist by- was closed 'due to covid'. They must have some very special information, given that every other gift shop and store in the island is open. As said, very disappointing. On an island that apparently adores manrique, they make it really quite hard for people to appreciate his art. I guess I'll Google him...