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Known to the ancient Greeks as The Fortunate Islands, the Canary Islands are indeed blessed: exuberantly green and temperate all year-round. There are seven islands in the archipelago: Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro. All were similarly formed by volcanic upheavals, creating dramatic mountains and craters and spectacular scenery.
Each of the Canary islands has its own personality. The most visited islands, Gran Canaria and Tenerife, have well developed tourist facilities along the coasts, and visitors can take spectacular day trips to the islands' volcanic hearts. Growing in popularity is dramatic Lanzarote, covered with volcanic boulders and ash -still so hot beneath the surface that a well-known restaurant grills over natural heat emanating from the earth. In this volcanic soil, vineyards grow and produce Malvasia wine, praised by Shakespeare centuries ago, and best known as a sweet wine, although today it is also an excellent dry wine.
Text courtesy of the Tourist Office of Spain
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