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Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Travel Guide

Travel to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria - Beautiful Beaches and Fascinating Culture

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Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is a bustling city overflowing with Spanish ambiance, history, and culture, set in a magnificent scenery composed of two bays and their beautiful beaches . The city boasts an important historical and cultural heritage, much of which can be found in the district of Vegueta, the oldest quarter of the town, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the capital of the island, is located in the north-eastern part of the island just 210 kilometers off the northwestern coast of the African continent within the Atlantic Ocean. It is also the co-capital of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands, sharing this status with Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The city was founded in 1478, with the name "Real de Las Palmas" by Juan Rejón, head of the invading Castilian army, before engaging in war with the local Guanches. In 1492, Christopher Columbus anchored in the Port of Las Palmas on his first trip to the Americas. Real de Las Palmas, expanded towards the banks of the ravine developing into the quarters of Vegueta and Triana on the right and left bank of the Barranco de Guiniguada. Today these two historic quarters are separated by Las Palmas’ major highway, Calle Juan de Quesada, which crosses the Barranco de Guiniguada and leads out of town to the centre of island.

For almost 400 years, the city was limited to the north within the perimetre of the walled quarters of Vegueta and Triana and during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, the town grew primarily into the interior of the island as almost all the cities of the archipelago. The quarters Vegueta, Triana, Vega de San José, and some small neighbourhoods, inhabited by immigrants and fishermen, mainly constituted the city of Las Palmas. It is only in the 19th century that the city started expanding to the north along the coastal strip and the districts of Arenales, Ciudad Jardin, Alcaravaneras, Santa Catalina, and La Isleta emerged.

Attractions in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

They include the Santa Catalina Park, the Playa de las Canteras, Casa Colón Museum, San Antonio Abad chapel, Santa Ana Cathedral, Atlantic Centre of Modern Art, Canario Museum, Casa Museo de Pérez Galdós, Cuidad Gerden, Pueblo Canario, Castillo de la Luz, Las Alcaravaneras beach, San Cristobal beach, Puerto de la Luz harbor,Museo Elder de la Ciencia y la Tecnologia, Museo Nestor, Pérez Gáldos Theatre, La Mayordomia Park, Santa Catalina Park, Doramas Park, Juan Pablo II Park, and San Telmo Park.

The city also hosts carnivals and fastivals all year roung. Among them are the San Juan fiestas, the Carnavales de Las Palmas, the International Film Festival, and the International Theater and Dance Festival.