Unusual Spanish island attraction built into a lava cave once owned by Hollywood star
THE island of Lanzarote is home to beautiful beaches and amazing wine – as well as an unusual attraction.
LagOmar Museum is an art gallery and restaurant, built into the side of a cave in Nazaret in the 1970s.
It was owned by the famous Hollywood actor Omar Sharif, who featured in huge films such as Doctor Zhivago and Lawrence of Arabia.
The actor bought the house – the only one in the area at the time – while being on the island while filming.
Sadly he later lost it in a game of bridge, just one day later to a man who was the European Bridge Champion.
Now, the home has been converted into a public attraction as a “centre of art, architecture and nature”.
Guests can explore the house built into the crater, with steps across multiple levels of rock.
There are a number of hidden rooms and paths to find, as well as a huge pool in the middle of the building.
And it has its own art gallery built inside as well.
It’s cheap too – tickets are just a few euros for kids, and around £4 for adults.
One visitor wrote: “It’s incredible, colourful, imaginary and it’s like a house you couldn’t imagined.”
Another said it was one of their “favourite places in Lanzarote”.
It has an on-site restaurant set across two levels, serving Canarian, tapas style dishes.
One tourist recently wrote: “I have been to Lanzarote over 20 times and this was the best food by some distance I have had.”
And La Cueva bar has some of the best views over the pool, serving local wines and drinks.
Thankfully there are lots of other things to do in Lanzarote while on holiday there too.
This includes the Mars-like Timanfaya National Park, as well as underground caves Jameos del Agua.
Otherwise the most famous beach is Papagayo Beach, or the 800m black sand Janubio Beach.
What it's like to stay on Lanzarote
The Sun’s Travel Reporter Hope Brotherton recently visited one of Lanzarote’s newest hotels, Barcelo Playa Blanca, which opened last year.
Gigantic floor-to-ceiling windows offer breathtaking views out to sea, with the hills of neighbouring island Fuerteventura visible in the distance.
According to the hotel’s architect Pep Vich, the entire complex was designed to mimic the island’s volcanic landscape.
And it does so effortlessly, from the azure blue rock pools dotted throughout the complex to the red and black volcanic gravel — the Barcelo Playa Blanca blends into the landscape.
The sprawling resort, with 720 rooms that can accommodate up to 2,000 guests, is set across two large resort complexes, with the Royal level offering an extra air of exclusivity with a private restaurant, adults-only bar and infinity pool.
As well as that incredible infinity pool and a main pool — 180 metres long — there was ample chance to enjoy a dip from the terrace of my swim-up room with direct access to a wonderful meandering pool.
And the island’s airport is also set to undergo a €3.2million (£2.7million) renovation, merging T1 and T2 together to allow passengers to travel between each terminal.
Larger plans to increase capacity from nine million to 10million will cost around €140million (£119million) and will start in 2027.