Gran Canaria Tourist Guide

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the largest city in the Canary Islands. It is the capital of the island, and was founded back in 1478. Over the years it has consolidated itself as an important, cosmopolitan Atlantic location. Since Christopher Columbus first came here several centuries ago for the first of three visits on his way to America, travellers from all origins have been seduced by its charms. With a historical and colonial town centre, made up of Vegueta and Triana, and with one of the finest urban beaches in the world at Las Canteras, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is also a leading tourist, historical, gastronomic, shopping hotspot, with delightful museums and a fine range of cultural and entertainment offerings, the highlight being its well known Carnival. Gran Canaria’s capital sprang up and developed around the district of Vegueta. The hub of this area of town is the Plaza de Santa Ana, with its ancient Town Hall buildings at one end and the great Cathedral at the other. The Columbus House Museum, the Canary Museum, the San Martín Centre of Contemporary Culture, and the Diocese Museum of Sacred Art together make up an interesting and peculiar museum tour, and are complemented by a wide variety of restaurants and bars for visitors to try out some The historic town centre, the city of Columbus.

THE CAPITAL

LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA

22

23

LEISURE GUIDE OF GRAN CANARIA