Mirador del Río is a viewpoint on an approximately 475-metre-high in the north of the Canarian island of Lanzarote, Spain.

The Mirador del Río is one of César Manrique’s most representative architectural creations as it shows a series of artistic and architectural details and his eagerness to combine art and nature. It is located near the remains of an ancient military base that dates back to the end of the 19th Century. It is camouflaged on the rock in a way in which only a genius of Manrique’s magnitude could conceive.

Although unassuming on the outside, the inside hides surprising details and impressive glass windows, the eyes of El Mirador, conceived by the artist aiming to increase the effect of the panoramic view, and the monumental and unique sculptures hanging off the ceiling challenging gravity. From the atalaya, visitors may watch the eighth Canary Island, La Graciosa, and the group of islets part of the Chinijo Islands National Park. At the bottom of the cliff, the reddish shades of the salinas del Rio stand out, also known as Guza, the oldest ones on the Canary Islands. Architect Eduardo Cáceres and artist Jesús Soto, collaborated in the creation of El Mirador, which was quite outstanding taking into consideration that there were scarce means, and the terrain had to be dug and the building later had to be covered with volcanic rock.

César Manrique (Arrecife, Lanzarote, April 24, 1919 / Teguise, Lanzarote, September 25, 1992) was a Spanish painter, sculptor and artist. He combined his work with the defense of the environmental values of the Canary Islands. He sought harmony between art and nature as a creative space. He obtained, among others, the World Prize for Ecology and Tourism and the Europe Prize.

Date: August 2019
Photographer: Merche Mateo
Additional information: Wikipedia