From reef shelter to trading port
Arrecife began as a small fishing settlement, recorded in the fifteenth century. Its name refers to the volcanic reefs that sheltered boats along this part of Lanzarote’s coast. The natural protection helped establish the settlement’s maritime role.
By the late sixteenth century, expanding trade created demand for warehouses and accommodation. The growing port also faced attacks: a raid in 1571 devastated the settlement. Fishing, commerce and the need to defend the waterfront are intertwined in the town’s early history.
The photograph shows the working port at Los Mármoles in August 2011, with cargo containers, industrial facilities and harbour vessels. It is a dated record of the commercial waterfront, distinct from the live camera view.