Things to Do in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
TOUR FOCUSED ON HISTORY
IMPORTANT TIP: TAKE THE TOUR AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR STAY ON THE ISLAND.
As a hiker and big lover of my island, once finished the tour, I am open to answering any questions you may have related to places to visit, eat, snorkel, or whatever. I will recommend many nice spots all around Gran Canaria.
I will tell you some of the many details I know related to our history incluiding some characters related to the city such as Christopher Colombus, Agatha Christie or Francisco Franco. Of course some explanations about certain elements really important from our local architecture like the Canarian balcony, the traditional patios or some really ancient Gothic Porticos. For those that really like the dark side of history, don't worry, I'm a big fan so I will talk about some horrible events that took part in my city.
On the tour, we cover some of the main spots, such as:
- Hermitage of San Antonio Abad
- Calle de los Balcones
- Plaza de San Agustín
- A traditional Patio
- Plaza del Espiritu Santo
- Plaza de Santa Ana
- Las Palmas Cathedral
- Gabinete Literario
- Triana
Limited to a maximum of 9 people, we will visit the most symbolic corners of the historic centre. The main reason for reducing the group size is to provide a friendly and personalized treatment, looking forward to solve any doubts you may have and sharing with you the interesting history of Gran Canaria, including the Pre-Hispanic era.
Join our exciting Free Tour and discover the secrets and charms of this fascinating city. With stops at the most emblematic places, we guarantee you an unforgettable experience.
We begin our tour in the charming Plaza de las Ranas . Here you will meet your guide and the rest of the group as you prepare for a day full of discovery. We will then continue to Plaza de San Antonio Abad , a place full of history and tradition, where you can admire the church of the same name and learn about its importance in the founding of the city.
Our walk then takes us to the impressive Casa de Colón , a museum dedicated to Christopher Columbus that will allow you to learn more about his travels and his stay on the island. Afterwards, we head to the majestic Cathedral of Santa Ana , where you can explore not only the cathedral, but also the Episcopal Palace, the Casa Regenta l and the iconic dog sculptures that guard the entrance. Every corner has a fascinating story that our guide will share with you.
Next, we visit the vibrant Vegueta Market , a perfect place to soak up the local life. Enjoy the colours, aromas and flavours of fresh Canarian produce and feel the pulse of the city. We continue our tour to the elegant Gabinete Literario.
We end our tour of this wonderful space with lots of recommendations so you can continue enjoying Las Palmas.
The tour is conducted in one language only, never in two languages because I don't have time. The respective flags appear on Guruwalk:
🇪🇦 and 🇬🇧
This is a tour that focuses on the history of the Canary Islands and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the architecture of the historic centre and Canarian culture.
Immerse yourself in the history, architecture and ethnography of the capital Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands with information ranging from the indigenous Canarian era, the conquest of the Canary Islands and Gran Canaria, the founding of the city, El Real de Las Palmas as a commercial city in the 16th century, pirate attacks and some anecdotes. An introduction will be made at the beginning about certain Canarian traditions inherited from the indigenous Berber population of the islands.
Information will also be provided about two illustrious figures linked to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, such as Cairasco de Figuero and Alfredo Kraus , as well as mentioning many others. Furthermore, we will focus on architectural monuments in the historic centre and their architectural styles (traditional Canarian architecture with a Mudejar stylistic base, neoclassicism, modernism, regionalism, etc.).
Route:
Vegueta
- Mesa de León Square
-Saint Anthony Abbot Square
-Mendizabal Street
-San Agustin Street
-Plaza of San Agustin and church of San Agustin
- Holy Spirit Street
-Plaza del Pilar Nuevo and the exterior of the Casa Colón
- Los Alamos Square
-Plaza de Santa Ana and the exterior of the cathedral of Santa Ana
-Holy Spirit Square
Triana
-Hurtado de Mendoza Square and the exterior of the Insular Library.
-Plaza Cairasco and the exterior of the Literary Cabinet
-Modernist houses on Malteses Street, Torres Street and Travieso Street
I am an experienced hiker who knows many corners of the island and has traveled to all eight Canary Islands. If you have any questions about places to visit, natural attractions, archaeological sites, towns, museums, restaurants or crafts, don't hesitate to ask!
Minimum 2 people and maximum 15 people due to the personal treatment that this tour requires and to resolve doubts.
Welcome to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria!
One of the most beautiful cities in the Canary Islands. It is home to a great history, beautiful buildings and monuments that we will discover during the tour.
On each visit, I will not only show you the most important elements of the historic centre of the city, but I will also tell you about our origins, introduce you to the cultural context of our islands and our cities, show you the most important testimonies and of course tell you some legends.
Itinerary:
Perez Galdos Theatre
Literary Cabinet
Church of San Francisco
Saint Anthony the Abbot
New Pillar Square
Columbus House
Cathedral and Plaza de Santa Ana
Holy Spirit Square
Santo Domingo Square
During the tour, I will be happy to answer all your questions. I'd love to share with you my culture and memories, as well as the best kept secrets that some locals don't even know about.
I look forward to accompanying you and making sure you take home a memorable memory of my city!
The island of Gran Canaria has suffered human cruelty for centuries, but it has also known how to defend itself. Mythological creatures, historical facts, stories of cruel people and people who have protected the island, its nature and its heritage.
Join us on a night tour of the mysterious Vegueta neighborhood , witness to the founding of the city, but also to dark events.
We will start at Plaza de San Antonio Abad, the place where the city was founded. We will talk about the Risco Caído and the sacred mountains of the island .
Continuing along the winding Pasaje Pedro de Algaba, we will arrive at the Plaza del Pilar Nuevo, where we will tell you what the Canary Islands have in common with the mythical Garden of the Hesperides .
In the Plaza de Santa Ana square, some very special protectors of the island await us, always alert. Don't anger them or they will invoke the Tibicenas with their barking. We will continue towards a very charming place, the Plaza del Cortado. There we will recount one of the cruelest historical episodes: the Acentejo massacre .
Next, in Plaza de San Agustín, pirate stories await us, such as the Van der Roes fire . We will stop in front of the Church of San Francisco de Borja to explain the Fiestas del Pino de Teror .
We will end in the Plaza Espíritu Santo where we will present the legend of Amarca , always desired, always persecuted, harmed by many, but protected since time immemorial by the sea and the mountains.
On this tour we will visit the most contemporary part of the capital of Gran Canaria and its fascinating beaches . In addition, you will have the opportunity to taste authentic Canarian Ronmiel.
With the help of our official guide, you will travel back in time from the first landings by the Castilian conquerors to the current sporting and commercial uses of Puerto La Luz or Las Palmas , the largest port in the Canary Islands and one of the most important distribution links for goods in Spain.
We will tell you about the different corsair attacks and the attempts at conquest in their original setting: The Castle of Light , the city's first defensive fortification and an emblematic place that today houses the Martín Chirino artistic foundation. Very close to the hermitage of the same name where the first mass on the island took place: Hermitage of Our Lady of Light .
On a pleasant walk along the urban beach of Las Canteras , we will learn about the volcanic past and some of its results, such as the impressive Confital beach, from one of its viewpoints.
Finally, we will visit the Mercado del Puerto , a place that was once a melting pot of cultures, this ancient square that supplied the workers of the most important port in the archipelago for years.
