Most holidaymakers come to Gran Canaria for the party atmosphere,
the beaches and the sun and but there is a lot more to see and
discover if you know where to look. The original settlers
on the island were called the Guanche and more of their artifacts
and burial remains have been found on Gran Canaria than on many
of the other Canary Islands. These historic remains even include
many caves of which one the finest examples is the painted
Guanche caves to the north in Galdar are very popular with visitors.
Columbus touched the Canary Islands and this is well chronicled
in the Casa Colon Museum in Las Palmas. There is no doubt that
many native Canarians were with him on his voyages into the new
world.
The Museo Canario in Las Palmas focuses on the aboriginal
inhabitants of Gran Canaria and the rest of the Canary Islands. It
explores how they lived, their social networks, their ceramics and
crafts and the dwellings. This museum really is the central point
for learning about the history of the original settlers on the Canary
Islands.
Museums & Gardens
Casa de Colon, Colon, 1, 35001 Las Palmas
de Gran Canaria. Tel: 928 312 373/312 384. Open 9am to
7pm Mon-Fri, and 9am to 3pm Saturdays and Sundays
El Museo Canario, C/Dr. Verneau, 2 (Vegueta),
35001 Las Palmas
CAAM, C/Los Balcones, 11. 35001 las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Tel: 902 31 18 24. Open 10am to 9pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, and 10am to 2pm
Sundays
Museo Nesto Art Gallery at Puerblo Canario, Las Palmas. Tel: 928 24 51 35. Open from 10am to 8pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, and 10.30am to 2.30pm on Sundays
The Cathedral De Santa Ana & Museo Diocesano,
Calle Obispo Codina 13, Las Palmas. Tel: 928 33 14 30
Gabinete Literario historical building on Plazoleta
Cairasco, Casa Museuo De Perez Galdos, Calle Cano 6, Las Palmas.
Tel: 928 36 69 76. Open 9am to 7pm Mondays to Fridays
Museo Elder De La Ciencia y La Technologica -
the Museum of Science and Technology, Parque Santa Catalina s/n,
Las Palmas. Tel: 928 01 18 28. Open 11am to 9pm (summer)
Parque San Temo includes the Iglesia de
San Telmo church, then move on to the Ciudad Jardin
and Parque Doramas and was actually designed by
the British in the late 19th century.
A major attraction, often offered by Gran Canaria excursion tour
companies, is a trip to the Pueblo Canario in Las Palmas.
It's a little Canarian village scenario on the edge of Parque Doramas
designed by the artist Nesto Martin Fernandez de la Torre and constructed
by the artist's brother in the 1930s
Canario Viera y Clavijo - Botanical garden of
27 hectares showing a wide range of Canarian flora and other species.
Tel: 928 35 36 04
