Places to See | Las Palmas

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Vegueta - the oldest district of Las Palmas, place where began the existance of the city, first called Real de Las Palmas. Nowadays there are numerous of museums, religious and historic buildings that came from the ancient times. In the very center of district is the main square Plaza de Santa Ana, with the Santa Ana Cathedral towering over it. Close to cathedral there is an entrance to Sacred Art Museum (Museo Diocesano de Arte Sacro). Now, it's just a few steps from here to get the Ermita de San Antonio Abad and Casa de Colón museum. From its main entrance, from Plaza del Pilar Nuevo, we easily get c/ Los Balcones - the best-preserved street on Vegueta. Close to this place is Doctor Chil Street, where the Museo Canario is placed. This museum contains the most important and the largest in Europe anthropological collection related to aborigenes of the Canaries.

Casa de Colón - Columbus House, an impressive colonial building with beautiful ornate doorways (the main entrance is from Plaza del Pilar Nuevo), characteristic balconies and two charming patios inside, presenting different styles of canarian architecture. According to numerous messages, in that house the Christopher Columbus was staying during his first trip to America, and to memory of this event, in 1952, a museum was founded here. In 13 exhibition rooms there is a collection of canarian artefacts, ship models, navigation instruments, maps, replica of cabin of one of Columbus ships "La Niña" and paintings.

Museo Canario - a museum of the Canary Islands' history, situated in the center of Vegueta (C/Doctor Chil), founded in 1879. In 11 exhibition rooms it was gathered the largest and the most important in Europe archeological and anthropological collection related to ancient canarians' life, from the period of 500 B.C. until XVth century. The permanent exposition includes: statuettes of gods, mummies, skeletons, pottery, tools and other artefacts of everyday life. There are also scaled models of canarian dwelling and replica of Cueva Pintada - the painted cave, which original you can see in Gáldar.

Plaza de Santa Ana - the main square in the historic district of Vegeta, situated close to legendary spanish camp, which initiated the existence of the city - at present Ermita de San Antonio Abad towers over that place. The entrance of the square is guarded by statues of dogs made of bronze, and around it there are monumental buildings of great historical, administrative and religious importance, for example: seventeenth-century Palacio Regental, nineteenth-century building of Casas Consistoriales, the bishops palace (Palacio Episcopal) and towering over everything around, impressive cathedral Catedral de Santa Ana. Its construction began in 1497 and took nearly four centuries, so that now it's presenting diversity of architectural styles, mainly Gothic, Renaissance and Neoclassicism. For the mension surely deserves the cathedral courtyard Los Naranjos, where nowadays the museum of Sacred Art (Museo Diocesano de Arte Sacro) is placed.

Ermita de San Antonio Abad - the oldest chapel in Las Palmas, situated in central part of Vegueta, near the square of the same name, formed in the place of first, legendary spanish camp of the conquest of the island. According to transfers in that temple, just before his trip to America, Christopher Columbus was praying.

Triana - one of the oldest districts of Las Palmas, founded shortly after Vegueta and also situated close to it. Along the narrow, paved streets there are impressive, often historic buildings, showing various aspects of canarian architecture of XVIIth, XVIIIth and XIXth centuries. Among them there are seventeenth-century churches perfectly presented themselves: Iglesia de San Francisco and Ermita de San Telmo, located at Parque San Telmo. For the mention also deserves one of the best theatres in Las Palmas - Teatro Pérez Galdós and a museum dedicated to its patron (Casa-Museo de Pérez Galdós), additionally the military building Gobierno Militar and Gabinete Literario. Across the center of district, from San Telmo to Vegueta, leads long, beautifully paved, walking commercial street - c/ Triana, where all sort of shops, boutiques and cafes are placed.

Ciudad Jardín - the most calm district in Las Palmas, founded at the beginning of XXth century by British residents that made up the economic elite of the city in that time. In contrast to noisy town here you find silence, lots of greenery and a different style of buildings. Ubiquitous here villas and residences are surrounded by beautiful flowered gardens and shows different architecture styles. In the very heart of district there is Parque Doramas - one of the largest and most beautiful parks. Among the greenery-filled alleys we find charming water cascades and lot of endemic species of plants and flowers. On its area is also located Pueblo Canario, which was thought to be shown to tourist as an example of typical canarian village, however, represents only its imperfect imitation. Close to the park is the oldest hotel in Las Palmas hotel Santa Catalina (1890), where the most important personalities of politics and culture are staying.

Playa de Las Canteras - the most prestigious and the longest golden sand beach on Gran Canaria. Along the beach leads the promenade filled with hotels, restaurants and cafes which extends to a lenght of over 3 km, from Auditorio Alfredo Kraus building - where the most important music and cultural events take places, to eastern La Puntilla. In about 100 m. from the coast there is La Barra de Las Canteras - the natural rock barrier of volcanic origin, working as breakwater and slowing down stronger waves, so that swimming is pleasent and safe. All the beach values has been appreciated by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe - organization providing environmental protection in seaside towns, which granted Las Canteras the Blue Flag distinction.

Santa Catalina - a district located between the port of Puerto de la Luz and the eastern section of Playa de las Canteras. In its main center is Parque Santa Catalina - huge promenade dotted with palm trees and flower beds, surrounded by cafes and restaurants. Here the night life and the largest city events take places, especially the biggest one - annual Carnival. In the surrounding of the park is situated the Sience and Technology museum (Museo Elder de la Ciencia y la Tecnología), and right next to it is a pedestrian bouleverd leading to the ferry port with good connections to neighbouring islands. The southern part of district is a commercial zone, in particular the Mesa y López street, where are two huge buildings of the largest spanish center El Corte Inglés.

La Isleta - a small peninsula on the north-east, conented to island with narrow pass established between beaches of Las Canateras and Las Alcaravaneras. Its south border is determine by Puerto de la Luz - one of the major harbor in Europe. In its vecinity we also find the ruine of the oldest on Gran Canaria XVIth century defence fortress Castillo de la Luz. From the summits of the La Isleta hills, particularly near Las Coloradas, spreads the beautiful panoramic view of entire Las Palmas and north part of the island. For the mention deserves also Playa del Confital - the beach which is extension of Las Canteras and where exists perfect conditions for surfers.

Jardín Canario Viera y Clavijo - the Canarian Garden, situated south of Las Palmas, near the village Tafira Alta. In the 27 hectares area we can admire the beauty of canarian vegetation, including cactus garden with huge as a tree examples and dragon trees.

Bodega de San Juan - the oldest preserved winery on Gran Canaria, with an about 500 hectares area. Each year crowds of residents and tourists come to buy even a bottle of wine produced here: tinto (red), blanco (white) or moscatel (dessert).

Caldera de Bandama - the largest volcano crater on the island with a diameter of about 1 km, depth 200 m and perimeter of nearly 10 km. In the vecinity, there is high on 569 m above see level top of Pico de Bandama, from which extends the beautiful panoramic view of the north-eastern part of Gran Canaria and the entire Las Palmas.

Auditorio Alfredo Kraus

Playa de Las Canteras

Las Canteras and Tenerife

Playa de Las Canteras

Pueblo Canario - Museo Nestór

Ciudad Jardín