Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, with about 380,000 inhabitants, is the largest city in the Canary Islands and, with Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the region's joint capital. It stretches along Gran Canaria's north-east coast between two seas, with the great Port of La Luz on one side and Las Canteras beach on the other. The climate is mild all year, with temperatures nearly always between 18 and 27°C.
History
The city was founded in 1478 by Castilians led by Juan Rejón during the conquest of the island, home to the ancient Canarians. It soon became a key port on the route to the Americas: Christopher Columbus stopped here in 1492 on his first voyage. It was attacked by pirates and privateers, including Francis Drake in 1595. In the 19th century the free port and trade with the British made it a modern, cosmopolitan city.
What to see
- Vegueta, the historic district, with colonial houses and wooden balconies: Santa Ana cathedral, with its rooftop viewpoint, the Casa de Colón, a museum on Columbus's voyages and the link with America, the Museo Canario, with mummies and finds of the ancient islanders, and the Vegueta market.
- Triana, the shopping district, with the pedestrian Calle Mayor de Triana, the Gabinete Literario and the birthplace of writer Benito Pérez Galdós.
- Las Canteras beach, the urban beach, about three kilometres long and sheltered by a rock reef, the barra, which creates a natural pool ideal for snorkelling; the promenade is lined with bars and restaurants. At its end stands the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus.
- Santa Catalina park and the port, with the Elder Museum of Science and Technology.
- The Castillo de la Luz, the island's oldest fortress.
Carnival
The Las Palmas carnival, in February or March, is among Spain's biggest, with weeks of parades, music groups, contests and the election of the queen. The Drag Queen Gala is famous.
Getting there and around
Gran Canaria airport is about 20 km south, linked by bus. From the city it is easy to reach the southern beaches, such as Maspalomas, and the mountainous interior, with Roque Nublo, the UNESCO cultural landscape of Risco Caído, and the villages of Tejeda, Teror and Agüimes.