Royal Residence of La Mareta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Royal Residence of La Mareta |
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Residencia Real de La Mareta
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Teguise, Lanzarote |
| Country | Spain |
| Coordinates | 28°59′15″N 13°30′19″W / 28.987627°N 13.505341°W |
| Construction started | 1970s |
| Client | Spanish royal family |
| Owner | Patrimonio Nacional |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | César Manrique |
The Royal Residence of La Mareta is a special holiday home for the Spanish royal family. It is located in the town of Teguise on the island of Lanzarote, which is part of Spain. Sometimes, important Spanish leaders like prime ministers also use this residence for their holidays.
This beautiful house was built in the late 1970s. It was ordered by King Hussein of Jordan. A famous Spanish architect named César Manrique designed it. The name "La Mareta" comes from an old word for a mareta. This was a type of cistern or pool that collected rainwater. It was also used for animals to drink from.
History of La Mareta
King Hussein of Jordan wanted this residence built by the sea. It is in a place called Costa Teguise in the northeast of Lanzarote. King Hussein himself never stayed there. However, one of his sons did visit for a holiday after getting married.
In 1989, King Hussein gave the house as a gift to Juan Carlos I. At that time, Juan Carlos I was the King of Spain. King Juan Carlos I then gave the house to Patrimonio Nacional. This is a special organization that manages royal properties in Spain.
Since then, the Spanish royal family has often used La Mareta for their holidays. But their main holiday spot is usually the Palace of Marivent in Mallorca. The first time the royal family stayed at La Mareta was in 1993. This was after the King's father, Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona, passed away. The King's mother, Princess María de las Mercedes, Countess of Barcelona, also passed away at this residence in 2000.
In 2015, King Felipe VI became the new King. He decided that La Mareta should be used to help tourism in the Canary Islands and Spain. He asked the Industry Minister to make a plan. The idea was to invite important people to stay at the residence. This would help promote the region as a great place to visit.
Famous Guests at La Mareta
Many important people from around the world have stayed at La Mareta. Here are some of them:
- In 1992, Germany's leader, Helmut Kohl, stayed here. This was during a meeting between Germany and Spain.
- Also in 1992, Mikhail Gorbachev visited. He was the former leader of the Soviet Union. He and his wife, Raisa Gorbacheva, stayed for three weeks.
- Another German leader, Gerhard Schröder, also used the residence.
- Between 1997 and 2002, Václav Havel stayed at La Mareta several times. He was the former president of the Czech Republic.
- Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar used the residence in 2000.
- Deputy Prime Minister Rodrigo Rato also stayed here.
- Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero visited many times. This was during his time as prime minister (2004-2011).
- In 2005, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia stayed with their daughter Leonor.
- The President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, was also a guest.
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez spent his Christmas holidays here in 2018.
See also
- Spanish royal sites
In Spanish: Residencia Real de La Mareta para niños
