THE PEREZ GALDOS MUSEUM LAS PALMAS

The birthplace of the Canarian novelist, playwright and social critic, Benito Perez Galdos, is now a museum and study centre. Born in 1843 in this fine town house built around a tiny patio, Perez Galdos pursued a distinguished literary career on the Spanish mainland. Although he studied the influence of the old Guanche language on contemporary usage while he was a student, the island never featured in his writing much to the disappointment of his compatriots. Exhibits on the first floor include the author's books, furniture made to his own design, a portrait of him by Sorolla and a recreation of his study in Santander. When the museum first opened in 1964, a local bishop warned that a visit to the home of such a rabid anticleric might constitute a mortal sin.