Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Famous for its joyful and impressive carnivals, it is its people, the beaches, and the magnificent climate of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria that make this city a true paradise.

The Vegueta neighbourhood, the main area of the historic centre, is made up of colonial and Canarian style buildings that beautifully represent the different historical periods the city has experienced. The Plaza de Santa Ana, spacious and pedestrianised, hosts the Holy Church Cathedral-Basilica of the Canary Islands, erected by order of the Catholic Monarchs and under Gothic and Neoclassical standards. Near this temple, you can visit the Casa de Colón. This building was created by joining several houses, one of which was visited by Christopher Columbus during a journey, and today it houses a museum that preserves various artefacts related to journeys to the New World, with pre-Columbian America, and with the history of the province.  The Canary Museum is also located in Vegueta. It is a fundamental cultural centre that hosts a wide exhibition of Guanche objects and mummies.

One of the most illustrious residents of Las Palmas was the writer Benito Pérez Galdós. There are several places in the capital dedicated to the writer: the Pérez-Galdós Theatre, a perfect place to enjoy opera and many plays performed there throughout the year; and the Pérez Galdós House-Museum, where many cultural activities are organised, enabling one to learn about the life and work of one of the best writers in the history of our literature. Galdós was born and raised in this house, and the furniture has been recovered from this and other homes where he lived.

The Triana neighbourhood is another of the historic areas of Las Palmas, perfect for shopping and tasting Canarian gastronomy, especially what is offered in the restaurants on Pérez Galdós street. In this neighbourhood, you will find the Literary Cabinet, a strong cultural hub whose building is one of the most beautiful in the city.

In the San Antonio neighbourhood, you can visit the Castillo de Mata Museum. This exhibition is located inside one of the city's castles. The fortification of La Luz, near the port of Las Palmas, is the best preserved of them all, and inside you can visit a collection of sculptures by Martín Chirino.

La Isleta and the Port of La Luz make up the most modern part of the city. La Isleta is a seafaring and military-origin neighbourhood, and the port has existed since the 15th century, but its remodelling has turned it into a perfect spot for nightlife. There, you will find the Alcaravaneras beach, for instance, which is often frequented by the residents of Las Palmas.

Among the capital's beaches, Las Canteras stands out, a kind of natural pool with calm waters thanks to the reef that breaks the north winds. Other beaches worth visiting are La Cícer or La Laja, which are also warm and have volcanic sand.