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casa de colon las palmas
christopher columbus stayed in this house while waiting for ship repairs during his first voyage of discovery to the new world in 1492. originally 15th century, but rebuilt in the 18th century, the house is now an excellent museum. highlights include a life-sized reconstruction of the poop of the nina, copies of columbus's early charts and instruments, and a copy of the 1494 treaty of tordesillas, which effectively divided the undiscovered world between spain and portugal....
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the santa ana cathedral las palmas
a mixture of gothic, renaissance, baroque and neo-classical styles reflects the fact that, although this cathedral was begun in 1497, it has only recently been completed and cleared of scaffolding. the west front, designed by local architect, lujan perez, and completed in the early 19th century, faces the large, palm lined square of santa ana and the two groups of bronze dogs which, some feel, gave the island its name....
parque doramas las palmas
this shady park, in the middle of ciudad jardin, contains the hotel santa catalina, the pueblo canario and the museo nestor. doramas, after whom the park was named, was the last guanche king of eastern gran canaria. in 1481, on montana de arucas, he challenged the spaniards to single combat and killed his rival with a javelin throw, but was fatally wounded himself. the spanish and guanche forces then joined in battle, but it was soon over. this was the final act of armed resistance against the spaniards many of doramas's followers hurled themselves off the cliffs, an event commemorated in the wild bronze sculpture in the hotel garden...
paroue santa catalina las palmas
the liveliest public space in las palmas, this park which is really more of a city square is surrounded by pavement cafes. korean and russian seamen mingle with african street traders and tourists from northern europe, while canarians play chess and dominoes. perfumeries and bazaar like shops fill up the side streets, which also act as a red light district by night this is also home to the museo elder, a museum of science and technology. you will find the city's main tourist information office in a traditional canarian building at the corner of the square....
san telmo park las palmas
a shady square full of tall palms and benches, this park is famous for its kiosk cafe, decorated in modernista style with ceramic tiles from manises, and for its charming small church, the ermita de san telmo (patron saint of fishermen). the church, decorated with a little canarian balcony, was rebuilt in the 17th century after destruction by dutch pirates. inside, there is a fine artesonado ceiling and a baroque retablo. on the west side of the park, a stern neoclassical building guarded by soldiers is the headquarters of the spanish army in the canary islands....
pueblo canario las palmas
the pueblo canario the canarian village is an attempt to preserve, recreate and display the best of canarian architecture. a small group of buildings on the edge of parque doramas based on the plans of the artist, nestor martin fernandez de la torre was erected after his death by his brother. there is a pretty courtyard, with outdoor cafe tables, the restored church of santa catalina, and a covered arcade of small shops selling canarian handicraft openwork tablecloths, musical instruments and canarian knives with decorated handles....
agoimes town gran canaria
in the east of the island, at the mouth of the barranco de guayadeque, is the town of aguimes, surrounded by terraced hills. this administrative centre of an area famous for fruit and vegetables was once, from 1483 to 1811, the seat of the bishops of gran canaria, whose citizens enjoyed privileges not extended to the rest of the island. the imposing neoclassical church of san sebastian is testimony to its early importance. a small square just above the church, surrounded by dark ficus trees, is a pleasant spot for civic events and festivities and the lively carnival in february....
arguineguin gran canaria
now, hotels and apartments are being built for those who like the atmosphere of a lively little canarian town. it has a good beach and, with an active fishing community, is famous for fish restaurants. unfortunately, because the gc1 motorway ends here (at present), the town suffers from occasional traffic jams...
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arinaga gran canaria
a fast-growing, low-rise town with a lighthouse, a dark, rocky foreshore and a pretty paseo maritimo, arinaga used to make its living from tomatoes and fishing. now, many of its citizens are recent immigrants from inland villages who work in tourism related industries. the coastline to the south is popular with dinghy sailors and windsurfers; the bahia de formas attracts migrating birds. a new harbor is being constructed but is not yet finished...
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castillo del romeral gran canaria
this small, rather tatty, fishing village of low white houses is named after a castle which has long since disappeared it is popular with those in search of simple but good fresh fish restaurants, many housed in former fishermen's terraced cottages....
