history
Lanzarote takes its name from Lanceloto Malocello, a Genovese navigator from the mid 14th Century. Lanzarote was later settled in 1404 by European navigators and by 1496 all the seven islands came under Castilian rule. The island suffered numerous pirate attacks, and as a result the castles of Santa Barbara and San Gabrielle were built. The many castles, fortifications, churches, convents, palaces and farmhouses reflect the rich history of the islands past, many of which are now museums.

Also historically important were the eruptions of 1730-1736 which devastated the most fertile regions of the island and transformed it into a volcanic landscape, necessitating an adaptation of farming methods still in use today.

Before tourism, the islands economy traditionally relied on its agricultural and fishing industries. Now, the island is visited by over a million tourists a year.