Hotels in San Bartolomé

San Bartolomé

San Bartolomé is a small inland town right in the middle of Lanzarote, the seat of one of the island's smallest municipalities. In the past it was called Ajei, an old name meaning small village. Its whitewashed centre keeps fine historic buildings such as the 18th-century Casa Mayor Guerra, once the home of the island's military governor, and the Casa Ajei, a restored Canarian manor house that is now a cultural centre. Next to the town stands the Monumento al Campesino, César Manrique's tribute to the farmers who made this volcanic land fertile, with a traditional house and a restaurant serving local dishes. The Tanit Ethnographic Museum tells the island's story from the first settlers, the Majos, to the early 20th century. A few minutes away by car, the El Grifo winery, the oldest in the Canary Islands, has a wine museum and a library of more than 5,000 books, and the vineyards of La Geria begin on the town's doorstep. The municipality also includes Playa Honda, its only stretch of coast, a long beach and the second most populated town on the island. Lanzarote Airport lies within the municipality, about 8 km from the town. Rural hotels, farmhouses and wine estates make San Bartolomé a calm base for travellers who want to explore the whole island from its centre. It suits couples, wine lovers and visitors looking for Lanzarote's traditions rather than a beach resort.