Gran Canaria Tourist Guide

can rise from its ashes. A central stopping point along our route before we get to the village itself is the Parador Nacional hotel, a crossroads and ideal resting place to take a look at the food stalls all around, or to try a snack at one of the nearby bars. Once we are in Tejeda we can stock up on some fine cakes and marzipans, two popular desserts made with the almonds grown on the local farmland. With this sweet flavour lingering on the tongue we move on to Artenara along the GC-60 and the GC-210. The highest municipality on the island oozes peace and quiet in natural surroundings. The viewpoint dedicated to Miguel de Unamuno is a superb balcony to look out over the “petrified storm” which shook the great writer during his visit to the summit in 1910. On our way back to the capital along the GC-21 we mustn’t forget to stop off at Valleseco, a region with a completely contradictory name (literally Dry valley) as demonstrated

by its so called Water Route. There is no getting away from the green vegetation and footpaths that meander all over its hills, providing a challenge for even the most experienced hikers. Every year, Valleseco celebrates its Apple Festival, and it is also home to first wholly ecological market on the island. We round off our itinerary at the summit and hillsides by visiting Teror, home to the Virgin of El Pino, the patron saint of Gran Canaria. We walk down the high street and see the striking Canary balconies that adorn the ancient façades. This takes us to the Basilica, built in the 18th century, where on 8th September every year thousands of devout followers from all over the Canary Islands converge. Teror is the perfect place to pick up some souvenirs, in the shape of lacework, knitware, pottery and wickerwork products. We mustn’t head back to the capital without first trying the chorizo from Teror, an apetising piece of cold pork that the Gran Canarians are rightly proud of.

Teror is the perfect place to pick up some souvenirs in the shape of lacework, knitware, pottery and wickerwork products.

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LEISURE GUIDE OF GRAN CANARIA