It is possible that if you think of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, its Las Canteras beach comes to mind or you think of Galdós, but the city has much more to show you. It is the most cosmopolitan city of the Canary Islands and its privileged geographical location also makes it the European capital of the mid-Atlantic and a cultural and economic bridge between Europe, Africa and America.
For those who plan to escape to this corner of the island, we propose a top 10 places and experiences where authenticity, nature, history and culture come together.
1. The unburied treasure of the capital of the island is Playa de Las Canteras, three kilometers long with the most extensive gastronomic, hotel and leisure offer. A place with a special charm, Las Canteras is one of the best urban beaches in the world: a rare jewel ?in the middle of the city, ?that the visitor can enjoy sunbathing or relaxing on the sand. Also to walk by the sea, surf, dive or snorkel, or navigate in a canoe, etc. These experiences are transferred to the urban promenade that accompanies Las Canteras, full of life away from the noise of cars and the rush, in a multiple gastronomic environment and with a lively urban life for all ages. In addition, it is a large marine life reserve, its seabed is a refuge for more than 150 species and its pleasant climate throughout the year makes it an ideal place to escape.
The pits.
2. Located at the southern entrance to the capital of Gran Canaria, is the historic neighborhood of Vegueta. The old part of the city is a network of streets with a most special architectural style, where a large part of the island’s history is concentrated. It is home to the Plaza de Santa Ana, the example of a square that the Spanish built in Columbian America and the Cathedral of Santa Ana, where you can visit its Museum of Sacred Art and climb the towers to enjoy the best panoramic views. Opposite the cathedral are the Casas Consistoriales, the main headquarters of the City Council, an authentic museum of art and history that you can visit every Sunday morning.
If you like to walk through the markets, the Vegueta Market cannot be missed on your route through the historic center. It is the oldest in the Canary Islands, founded in 1787, it is a market where its multicolored fruit stalls and its traditional stalls of local products, including its famous cheeses, are surprising. If you want more, on Sundays you can visit the Craft Market. In Vegueta you can not only see historical corners, you can also visit the most daring contemporary art in the CAAM (Atlantic Center of Modern Art), its artistic exhibitions impress everyone who visits it.
3. Nestled in the historic center of Vegueta is La Casa de Colón, one of the essential visits in Vegueta. From the beginning, it has fulfilled the mission of researching and disseminating the history of the Canary Islands and its relations with America. The special rehabilitation of the building has endowed it with a personality that is part of the image of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and a must-see in the city.
4. The Canarian Museum is the place if what you are looking for is to know all the peculiarities of the Island. A scientific and cultural institution founded in 1879, where collections of archaeological and ethnographic materials and artistic creations are preserved, studied and exhibited, along with a Library and Archive specialized in issues of the Canarian aborigines.
Canary Museum.
5. You cannot miss a visit to the Triana neighborhood. In it, history, architectural heritage, gastronomy and shops coexist, in an area that is practically completely pedestrianized. The suggestive thing about this neighborhood is that it still preserves the small traditional shops of haberdashery, bakeries, ice cream parlors, shoemakers, fashion shops, in charming and well-kept stores, in addition to the best-known firms. Here, many of the houses retain their old facades, Canarian balconies and wooden doors and windows. The best thing is to get lost in its streets and discover them.
Triana.
6. There are numerous cities with a special literary atmosphere and charm. This is the case of the capital of Gran Canaria, a city that breathes history and is full of countless colors and cultures. One of the ways to enter its most historic heart is to follow the footsteps of Benito Pérez Galdós’s childhood and adolescence on a route through the city of Galdós. This route offers the possibility of visiting the Pérez Galdós House Museum, the Literary Cabinet and the Pérez Galdós Theater, where the settings in which one of the names of Universal Literature was forged are shown, and it allows discovering the link between the writer and the city where he was born.
Perez Galdos Theater.
7. Now that it is autumn, the mild temperatures are appreciated to connect with nature and take a route either on foot or by bicycle. The bike route along the Guiniguada path is well known among cyclists who live in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It is a path of approximately 7.5 kilometers, which begins in Vegueta and leaves the city to enter the surrounding nature until it reaches the Botanical Garden. It runs through the Guiniguada ravine through various agricultural and livestock farms and various elements of old water distribution networks. Aboriginal caves and one of the most relevant plant elements of its ecosystem, the Canary palm tree, make this route unique.
8. The Canary Islands Botanical Garden, dedicated to the naturalist Viera y Clavijo and founded by the Swedish botanist Eric Sventenius, of 27 hectares is a haven of peace that includes a complete sample of the botanical wealth of the islands, as well as being one of the homes of the Giant Lizard of Gran Canaria, an endemic species and the largest lizard in the world of the Lacértidae family.
9. El Confital beach and its natural environment, a protected area located in the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where you can walk from Las Canteras. A spectacular wild-looking beach for lovers of surfing and body boarding, or for those looking for an open environment behind the city to walk in its spectacular volcanic landscape or simply enjoy a moment of relaxation with its magnificent sunsets.
10. And, last but not least, are its two fortresses: El Castillo de La Luz, in the Puerto area, the oldest fortification in the Canary Islands, declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1941, and headquarters of the Foundation of Art and Thought Martín Chirino, a space for art, debate and culture.
The Castillo de Mata in the Triana neighbourhood, declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1949, is one of the few vestiges of the defensive system of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria from the 16th century where you can visit its unique cubelo or enjoy exhibitions and cultural events throughout year.
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