Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Tourist Information

Las Palmas is the capital of Gran Canaria and the largest city in the Canary Islands with around 400,000 inhabitants. At the heart of Las Palmas is the old quarter of La Vegueta which dates back to the late 15th century. With its cobbled street and pretty houses, this historic walled district, which was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1990, is a lovely area for a relaxing stroll.

La Vegueta is dominated by the twin towers of the Santa Ana Cathedral. The construction of this church was begun in 1500, but due to a lack of funds it was not actually completed until the 19th century. As a result the cathedral exhibits a mixture of architectural styles. There are some fine examples of religious art inside, many of them works by the sculptor Jose Lujan Perez. Some of the more valuable artefacts can be seen in the cathedral's Sacred Art Museum, including Spanish sculptures and Dutch paintings.

To the north of La Vegueta is another walled quarter, Triana. Sights in this area include the Iglesia de San Francisco, a colonial-style church which was rebuilt in the 17th century after being destroyed by fire during a Dutch pirate raid. Running through the centre of Triana is the pedestrianised street of calle Mayor. There are a variety of shops along this thoroughfare, from small boutiques to large high-street chains.

One of the most attractive buildings in Las Palmas is the Casa Museo de Colon, where Christopher Columbus is thought to have stayed in 1492. Since 1952 the building has housed a museum containing a variety of nautical exhibits related to the explorer, including models of ships, navigational aids, maps and charts. Founded in 1879, the Museo Canario houses a diverse collection of objects, including pottery, jewellery, skeletons and tools, which date from ancient times up until the 15th century. The exhibits relate to the lives of the Gaunche people who are indigenous to the Canary Islands. Models of Gaunche cave houses are among the museum's highlights. Close to the Museo Canario is the charming square of Plaza del Espirito surrounded by several historic buildings and with an impressive fountain at its centre.

Las Palmas is situated along a peninsular which juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. The city has two beautiful beaches, Playa de las Alcaravaneras and the exceptional Playa de las Canteras, regarded as one of the finest urban beaches in Spain. Las Canteras is especially popular with kitesurfers and windsurfers. To the south of this beach is the Alfred Kraus Auditorium which hosts the Canary Islands Classical Music Festival, as well as the city's international film festival. The area is also home to the Las Arenas shopping complex which has a variety of shops, restaurants, cafes plus a multi-screen cinema.

Las Palmas Airport is situated about 12 miles (20 kilometres) south of the city. There are half-hourly buses from the airport to the bus stations at Parque San Telmo and Parque Santa Catalina in Las Palmas. Taxis from the airport cost around 25 euros.

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For more advice and tourist information about Las Palmas de Gran Canaria please see Las Palmas

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