MOYA GRAN CANARIA

Seen from the west Moya is an astonishing place, with a huge church, Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria, perched on the very lip of a deep ravine. Small wonder that earlier churches on the same site collapsed into the barranco: the first in 1671, the next in 1704. A 15th century image of the Virgin was preserved, however, and the town remains devoted to it. Moya has a delightful, lofty feel; the area set on the east side of the church, safely separated from the ravine, is well preserved. It includes the birthplace of the poet and doctor, Tomas Morales at No 1 in the plaza now named after him a fine, broad house with balcony, now the Casa Museo. In prehistoric days, Moya was home town of the future leader Doramas, a poor boy who made good and moved to Telde when he became guanarteme, only to die resisting Spanish conquest.