The city of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria

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Presentation

General presentation

The city of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria. Overview. Click to enlarge the image.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the second capital of the Canary province, the Province of Las Palmas or province of the eastern islands, composed of three islands: Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. She is also the co-capital of the Canary Islands, alternating every four years with Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Las Palmas is the largest city of the Canary Islands with 376 000 inhabitants and the eighth largest city in Spain. The city has nearly half of the inhabitants of Gran Canaria and covers fifteen kilometers.

Etymology and toponymy

Las Palmas gets its name from the palm grove that existed at the founding of the city in 1478.

Situation

Las Palmas is located 150 km from Africa and 1,350 km from the Iberian Peninsula and Europe. It is 6 am flight from America.

The port of Las Palmas, Puerto de la Luz, is perfectly connected to the world by 30 shipping lines set to 265 cities.

The international airport of Gran Canaria is located 18 km from the capital, that is to say 20 minutes by bus (guaguas). The No. 60 bus leaves the airport every half hour.

Visits

The neighborhood of Vegueta
The oldest and the most romantic neighborhood Las Palmas is one of Vegueta, the original center of the city located in the southern part, which retains all the charm of the colonial architecture of the fifteenth and sixteenth century. Sumptuous palaces, imposing churches, cobbled streets, beautiful patios and balconies are reminiscent of a glorious past: do not forget that Las Palmas was the first colonial city in the kingdom. For nearly four centuries, the walls surrounding the area delineated the old city center. This one has expanded to the north until the twentieth century. The center of the old town is the Place Sainte-Anne, dominated by the imposing St. Anne’s Cathedral and surrounded by palm trees. The most beautiful buildings, nooks and museums are clustered around the Hermitage.
Cathedral Santa Ana de Las Palmas
Cathedral (XVI / nineteenth century) named the patron saint of Spanish conquistadors is a unique composition of Gothic style elements, baroque, classical and Canarian. Its construction, by architect Diego Alonso Montague, was made between 1500 and 1570 in late Gothic style inside and in neoclassical style on the outside. Remarks: Christ of Luján Pérez, who chairs the chapter house, and the facade of the same artist.
The episcopal palace
The bishop has built the Episcopal Palace in the sixteenth century, with the exception of the facade which dates from the fifteenth century and that it was made by Ponce de León.
The St. Elmo hermitage (Ermita de San Telmo)
The hermitage of San Telmo was built by the Compagnons browsers the sixteenth century. It was destroyed in 1599 by Dutchman Peter van der Does, but it was rebuilt in the seventeenth century. It is a Mudejar church architecture, but its gates were made in Gothic Renaissance style. Mudejar ceiling and two altarpieces: St. Elmo and Virgin las Angustias.
The Church of St. Francis of Assisi (Iglesia de San Francisco de Asís)
The Church of St. Francis of Assisi was rebuilt in the seventeenth century. It is home to some very important works by Luján Pérez. The frescoes were painted by Jesús González Arencibia.
The Church of St. Dominic (Iglesia de Santo Domingo)
The Church of St. Dominic is in Baroque style with some Mudejar touches the sixteenth century. You can see several paintings by Luján Pérez and a Baroque monstrance of the eighteenth century from Mexico.
The St. Anthony Abbot Hermitage (Ermita de San Antonio Abad)
The St. Anthony Abbot Hermitage was the first diocesan headquarters. It was built on the military camp El Real de Las Palmas, the origin of the city of Las Palmas. In the hermitage, Columbus prayed before his trip to America. The chapel has been restored several times, the last time in the eighteenth century.
The house of Columbus (Casa de Colón)
The house-museum of Columbus is located on the Square Santa Ana. The museum focuses on the history of the Canaries and their relationship with America. Found in the Museum of panels representing the customs and traditions of the peoples of pre-Columbian America. A space is reserved for Christopher Columbus trips, and you can admire maps and models that belonged to the explorer. According to tradition, the casa de Colón hosted the famous explorer in 1492, during his expedition to the New World.
The beach of Las Canteras
Las Palmas also has a white sandy beach of 3 km, the Playa de las Canteras: it is thus a seaside resort town.
Celebrations in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
The carnivals of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria are luxurious, fun; nothing is forbidden, nothing is repressed, the music, the costumes ... not to mention the mood and manners.
The port of Puerto de la Luz
The port of Las Palmas, Puerto de la Luz, located in the bay of La Isleta, is the first commercial port, fishing and boating in the Canaries.
La Isleta
La Isleta is an isthmus that surrounds the port; is the fishing district and port workers.