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To
see the historic centre visitors
should go to the popular area of
Vegueta where some of the most
important historical buildings have
been standing for the past five
hundred years.
Vegueta
also houses museums such as Casa Colón
(Christopher Columbus museum), where
you can learn about the most
interesting aspects of Columbus´
trips to America and his stopovers in
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The Museo
Canario contains the historic relics
left by the former inhabitants of the
island. The Museo de Arte Sacro
(Museum of Sacred Art) also
offers visitors an exhibition of
several religious works. In contrast
to the historic buildings in Vegueta,
you can also visit the Centro Atlántico
de Arte Moderna (modern art gallery)
which is one of the most interesting
avant-garde displays of works by
Spanish artists.
Before
leaving Vegueta you must visit the
Guiniguada theatre and take a walk
through the old market that dates back
to 1854.
After
the founding of the city, the
buildings started to extend along the
other side of the Guiniguada ravine
becoming what is now known as Triana,
originally a maritime and commercial
area. Here, the visitor can enjoy a
pleasant walk along the main street
called calle Mayor de Triana, where
there are several buildings of great
artistic and historical value. Also in
this area is the San Telmo Park with
several notable constructions,
including the chapel of San Telmo, a
pavilion of modernist design with a
café, and a bandstand, also in the
modernist style.
The
theatre Teatro Pérez Galdós,
of Italian inspiration and currently
being reformed, is one of the most
emblematic buildings of the city. One
of the meeting points in Triana is the
Plaza Hurtado de Mendoza and the Plaza
Cairasco, with two notable
buildings: the Hotel Madrid and the
Gabinete Literario, both in the
neoclassical style and with modernist
decoration. Sit in one of
the terrace bars and enjoy the
relaxing atmosphere of the Plaza
Cairasco.
Another
of the most interesting architectural
elements in the area surrounding
Triana is the Edificio Quegles built
in 1900. Also located in Triana is the
Casa Museo Pérez Galdós. This museum
contains a documental archive with the
biographical and literary research on
the novelist, Pérez Galdos, who was
born in this very house.
In
the centre of the city, close to the
Alcaravaneras beach is the Parque
Doramas. Its gardens, recently
reformed, are home to species of
autochthonous plants. Within the park
there are three important buildings.
The Pueblo Canario is a sample of
traditional Canary architecture and
houses the Museo Néstor
dedicated to Nestor Fernández de la
Torre, a modernist painter and one of
the most significant figures of the
Archipelago. The historic Hotel
Santa Catalina, built in colonial
style and inaugurated in 1890,
completes this architectural group
located in the centre of the city.
The
Muelle Deportivo marina is the largest
dock for private seafaring craft in
the Canary Islands. It is located in
the Avenida Marítima in front of the
Hotel Santa Catalina. One of the most
important transatlantic regattas, the
Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC),
starts at this marina joining Gran
Canaria to Santa Lucía in the
Caribbean.
In
the port area of the city is one of
its most emblematic parks: el Parque
Santa Catalina, an example of life in
the streets. Here you can find the
Museo de la Ciencia (Science Museum)
and the Edificio Miller (Miller
Building), both of which hold cultural
activities. Parque Santa Catalina is
also the key centre of Carnaval and
the Dance and Theatre Festival
celebrated during summer.
Alfredo
Kraus Auditorium presides over the Las
Canteras beach from one of its
extremes. The main music concerts and
international congresses are held here.
If
you want to enjoy the scenic beauty
and Canary architecture of the
municipality, take yourself to the
residential area of Tafira. This is
also the location of the botanic
gardens Jardín Botanico Viera y
Clavijo. The gardens bring together
the most important autochthonous
plants of the archipelago.
For
one of the most spectacular and
enjoyable walks visit the Caldera de
Bandama, a dormant volcanic crater.
The diameter of the crater is 800
meters and it is 200 meters deep. The
lava flow from the crater formed the
Bandama peak from which there is a
spectacular view.
Beaches
Las
Palmas de Gran Canaria is one of the
few capital cities of Spain which has
kilometres of beach. Added to this,
are the excellent climatic conditions
of the island, which allow the beach
to be used all year round.
Shopping
Las
Palmas de Gran Canaria has four large
commercial centres: Las Arenas, La
Ballena, 7 Palmas and El Muelle as
well as the shopping areas of Triana
and Mesa y López. The shops, leisure
and service centres offer a wide range
of products and prices. In the area
around Santa Catalina Park there are
small businesses specialising in sound
and image equipment.
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