Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain

Description — Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is a city in Spain, the administrative center of the province of Las Palmas on the island of Gran Canaria, part of the Canary Islands archipelago, 210 km off the north-western coast of Africa. Las Palmas is one of the capitals of the Canary Islands (Santa Cruz de Tenerife is also considered a capital). It is a very crowded and noisy city, located in the north-eastern part of the island.

In 1478, Juan Rejón and the troops of Castile founded the city after their victory over the indigenous inhabitants (the Guanches) of the Canary Islands. Christopher Columbus, in 1492, during his first voyage to America, made a stop in Las Palmas and, on the return journey, visited Spain and stayed in the city. Today, in the city (Vegueta district), a museum is named after Columbus in his honor (the Columbus House-Museum). In 1595, English privateers repeatedly attacked the island, but they failed to take the city. Las Palmas held its ground under the pressure of Dutch troops led by the navigator Pierre van der Deijs. On 28 June 1599, a decisive battle took place between Spanish and Dutch forces, after which the Dutch abandoned their claims to the Canary Islands. This Spanish victory was commemorated by the construction of the Cathedral of the Canary Islands, dedicated to Saint Anne, the patron saint of the city.

The Canary Islands are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean; they form seventeen autonomous regions of Spain. The area of the archipelago is 7,500 square kilometers. Gran Canaria is one of the largest among the islands of the archipelago. Its area spans 1,500 square kilometers. As of 2012, the island’s population was 852,225 people, making Gran Canaria second among the Canary Islands by number of residents.

Gran Canaria is in no way inferior to its neighbor Tenerife: the same beaches with clean sand, the same volcanic rocks, the same crowds of carefree tourists and locals in tidy streets of historic towns, green gardens and parks. The resorts of Gran Canaria are ready to welcome the widest variety of guests-both families with small children (they should pay attention to sunny Puerto Rico), and reckless young surfers (head for the coastline around the city of Las Palmas), and photography lovers with “DSLRs” (start with the Pico de las Nieves viewpoint).

A vacation on Gran Canaria is safe and civilized-no burned-out streetlights or dirty benches; everything is well cared for and neat. But that does not mean the atmosphere on the island is stuffy and restrained-on the contrary, there is constant fun, reaching its widest scale during the annual carnival days in Las Palmas.

Climate

Gran Canaria is in the trade-wind zone, which penetrates the Northern Hemisphere from the north-east. They are held back by mountain ranges and, as they rise, sometimes lead to heavy rainfall on the northern slopes, most often in the form of fog. This is why the climate in the south is dry and the north part is more humid. The dryness of the southern part is also worsened by winds coming from the Sahara. These winds are called calima and bring dust from the desert. Sometimes they cause sandstorms accompanied by air temperatures rising to 50 °C. At elevations above 1,500 meters, snow may linger for several days in winter, while along the coast you can swim in the sea and sunbathe.

According to a study by Thomas Whitmore, Director of Climatology Studies at Syracuse University (USA), the city of Las Palmas has the best climate in the world.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
Columbus House
St. Anthony Abbot Church
St. Anne’s Cathedral
Bishop’s Palace
Museum of the Canary Islands
Las Palmas Beaches
Old Town
Museum of Nestor

Location on the map

Sights

Columbus House Museum

One of the most beautiful buildings in the city of Las Palmas: decorative doorways, lattice balconies, and intricately carved wooden ceilings. This palace was the island governor’s first residence. It was here that the great traveler Christopher Columbus stayed while one of his ships was in port for repairs. The museum features 13 permanent exhibition halls, a library, a training center, and venues for cultural events. The exhibit is fully devoted to the maritime theme: ship models, replicas of parts of a vessel, maps, navigation items, and much more. In the courtyard, visitors are entertained by a couple of very talkative parrots.

Cathedral of the Canary Islands

The temple’s second name is the Cathedral of Saint Anne, named after the city’s patron saint, Las Palmas. The church is located in the historic center of the capital. It is the most important monument of Canarian architecture, the first basilica in the archipelago, and the modern residence of the Catholic Diocese. Construction of the Cathedral began back in the 15th century, by the personal order of the cardinals of the Vatican, Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II. However, due to a lack of funds, the work was suspended several times. As a result, it is interesting to see how this is reflected in the building’s architecture: a fascinating blend of styles, from late Gothic to neoclassicism.

Church of San Antonio Abad

The small church of San Antonio Abad (Ermita de San Antonio Abad) was built in 1777 and is associated with the name of Christopher Columbus. Here Columbus prayed on several occasions before setting out again on his voyage across the ocean.

Bishop’s Palace

On Plaza de Santa Ana there is also the Bishop’s Palace (Palacio Episcopal), built in the early 16th century and rebuilt in 1630 after the city was besieged by the Dutch, the Las Palmas town hall, and eight bronze dogs-just like those on the coat of arms of the Canary Islands.

Canary Islands Museum

The Museum of the Canary Islands (Museo Canario), founded in 1879, will tell you about the lives of the indigenous people of Gran Canaria before Spanish colonization: you can see jewelry and tools of the Guanches, cave paintings, everyday items and mummies.

What to see

Beautiful sandy beaches

In Las Palmas, you’re guaranteed a wide selection of activities that will help you enjoy your time either before the cruise or on a cruise day, if the liner stops in this city for just one day. In Las Palmas, you’ll find the very best for every taste-an extensive strip of sandy beaches that will let you spend the entire day swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the ocean, as well as a vibrant city life.

Walk through the Old Town

In the city, you’ll find a wealth of luxurious shops and boutiques; the streets and alleyways are brimming with cafés and other first-class establishments offering tapas and a variety of drinks. Stroll along the charming pedestrian street of Triana, reminiscent of Old Arbat in Moscow, and along Jose Mesa y Lopez Avenue-the city’s main shopping artery lined with expensive and prestigious stores. Take a seat at the café decorated with ceramic tiles (1923) in San Telmo Park, and head to the very heart of Las Palmas-Santa Catalina Park.

Recommended excursions

Sightseeing tour of Las Palmas city

During an introductory tour, you will be able to visit the most beautiful sights of the city, as well as places associated with the names of well-known writers and artists who lived on the island. Their works are housed in a number of central museums, including the Pérez Galdós House-Museum, the Gran Canaria Néstor Museum, and the Thomas Morales House-Museum. In addition, there is the Pueblo Canario Museum, which is a complex of built island houses.

For a more detailed list of excursions and their prices, you can review it after booking your cruise in your “Client Personal Account”.