Arrecife (Lanzarote, Canary Islands)

Arrecife is a port city and municipality located in the Canary Islands, Spain. It is situated in the centre-east of Lanzarote Island, of which it has been capital since 1852. The city covers a total area of approx 22,7 km2 (8,8 mi2) and has a population of around 55,670 people (2013 census).

The city of Arrecife owes its name to a rock reef ('Arrecife' means 'reef' in Spanish) which covers a beach situated in the city. Arrecife also gives its name to nearby Arrecife Airport.

Arrecife is east of Tinajo, northeast of Yaiza and south of Haría. It is served by ferries to the other isles, Europe and mainland Africa. The tallest building in Lanzarote Island is Gran Hotel Arrecife, located on the front alongside the city's harbour.

Arrecife's earliest records date from the 15th century when the town was a fishing settlement. Towards the end of the 16th century, the settlement started to grow in response to the need for accommodation to support the growing trade between the new and old worlds. The first church was built at this time, consecrated to Arrecife's first bishop, San Gines. Growing prosperity increased the city's attractiveness as a pirate target: the notorious pirate named Dogan almost completely destroyed the port town in 1571.

Arrecife cruise terminal