If Lanzarote has not been invaded by the eysore of mass tourism as happened to the other Canary Islands much is owed to the work of Cesar Manrique, versatile and visionary local artist, who in addition to marking the island's territory with large and small masterpieces, has above all been able to shape in his fellow countrymen minds a mentality of preservation and enhancement of the most precious existing assets: the environmental protection and the architectural heritage preservation.
Lanzarote's pueblos blancos are an extraordinary sampling of Canarian architecture: low houses, well-squared cubes, sometimes ended by a dome, perfectly integrated and sometimes even camouflaged in the island's volcanic environment. The dominant color is a dazzling white in direct sunlight, safeguarding the interiors from excessive temperatures. The roofs are pitched to facilitate rainwater collection and pleasantly staggered in height, as the walls enclosing the interior courtyards and the short flight of stairs up to the terrace. In the doors and windows are skilful touches of color green or blue. An urban scenery that we can define cubist and metaphysical at the same time.
