Las Palmas de Gran Canaria - Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, or simply Las Palmas, is the capital of Gran Canaria.

To know

Like Rio de Janeiro and of Miami Beach, the tourist fortunes of Las Palmas were determined by about five beaches enclosed within its urban perimeter. Until the late 60s of the twentieth century, the city was the only tourist center of Gran Canaria. In the following decade, the primacy was taken away from seaside resorts that had sprung up like mushrooms and in record time on the southern coast ofisland.

Geographical notes

The Las Palmas metropolitan area occupies the entire northeastern section of Gran Canaria. The city was built on the long and thin strip of coastal plain (Vegueta) extending to the mountainous area immediately behind (Ciudad Alta), engraved by numerous "barrancos", gorges created by streams whose beds are now dry. After the end of the 1st World War, Las Palmas spread over the sands and dunes of the Guanarteme isthmus which connects Isleta, once a volcanic island in its own right, to Gran Canaria. The isthmus, triangular in shape, narrows at its northern vertex to measure a couple of hundred meters. Nowadays it appears intensely urbanized but two splendid beaches have been spared, that of Canteras (the west beach) and the other called "playa de las Alcaravaneras" (the east beach, nestled between the commercial and tourist port).

As of 2015, the city had 379,766 residents. The metropolitan area of ​​Las Palmas is the tenth of Spain with 616,903 inhabitants.

When to go

Thanks to its climate, Las Palmas is a year-round tourist destination. The low latitude (just 5 ° above the Tropic of Cancer) and the influence of the trade winds ensure average temperatures of 17 ° C in winter and 25 ° C in summer. Las Palmas has been defined as the city with the best climate in the world by the weather department of Syracuse University (USA).

Background

The foundation of the city dates back to 24 June 1478, the day of the feast of San Giovanni. On that date Juan Rejón, captain in the service of the crown of Castile, landed on the east coast of Gran Canaria, at the point where the "barranco" (ravine) of Guiniguada flows into the ocean. The captain established a camp here, from which he then moved to the conquest of Gran Canaria. On the site of the military camp, identifiable today with the small district of Vegueta, masonry buildings were built once the conquest of the island was completed in 1483. The court of the Holy Inquisition moved to Vegueta two years later. The city also welcomed the seats of the bishopric of Canary Islands and of the Real Audiencia, becoming de facto the capital ofarchipelago.

The sudden development of the city is proven by the fact that Christopher Columbus he made a short stopover there in August 1492 with the intention of having the Pinta repaired, one of the three caravels of the first expedition that had suffered a rudder failure, and to have the triangular sails of the Niña replaced with square ones to make it faster. In its first two centuries of life the city prospered thanks to the sugar cane trade.

At the end of the sixteenth century the city suffered raids by fearsome pirates, which required the immediate construction of defensive walls and mighty fortifications. In 1595 the fleet was presented under the command of John Hawkins and Francis Drake, with the intention of sacking it but the attempt was unsuccessful. Luckier was the Dutch pirate Pieter van der Does, who besieged the city with 74 ships for just two days from 26 to 28 June 1599, before being able to disembark and pack it. The looting lasted a week. On July 4, the Dutchman was forced to retreat after part of his 6,000 men were wiped out in an ambush set against them by the Spanish army in the ravine (barranco) of Santa Brígida.

In 1852 Las Palmas was proclaimed a free port in order to attract capital and promote its economic development. The duty exemption attracted British shipowners and entrepreneurs who ended up settling permanently in the city, influencing local customs in a lasting way. The small port de la Luz was significantly expanded starting in 1883.

As elsewhere in Europe, tourism, in the modern sense of the term, was born during the Belle Époque. In 1890, with British capitals, the Santa Catalina hotel was completed, still today the most prestigious in Las Palmas.

In 1927, by royal decree of the dictator Miguel Primo de Rivera, the Canary Islands they were divided into two provinces and Las Palmas became the capital of the easternmost one including, beyond Gran Canaria, also Lanzarote is Fuerteventura.

Francisco Franco, in his capacity as major general and commander of the Canary Islands, he stayed in Las Palmas before setting sail on July 18, 1936, for the Morocco where it gave birth to the insurrection that resulted in the Spanish civil war. In the Madrid hotel, still in operation, the apartment where the future "caudillo" lived studying the coup in detail is preserved intact.

Mass tourism emerged in Las Palmas in the late 1950s. The promoter event was the film "Moby Dick"from 1956, shot in part on the beach of Las Canteras. It was in the wake of the worldwide success of the US film that at Christmas of the following year a Swedish Transair airline with 54 passengers on board landed at Gran Canaria airport. the first of a series of flights destined to thicken more and more in the following years. To cope with the increased tourist demand, huge seaside resorts such as Playa del Inglés, Maspalomas is Puerto Rico. Already in 1970 Las Palmas had lost its tourist leadership to the advantage of these centers.

Suggested readings

Archibald Joseph Cronin "Gran Canaria" (ISBN 0-450-02047-9) - Novella in which the author of "The Citadel" and "The stars are watching" gives us an accurate description of how the holidays of the British elites took place in the interwar period.

How to orient yourself

The city of Las Palmas is characterized by an extremely elongated topography. Between the historic center and the Isleta district, located on the promontory of the same name that delimits the port de la Luz and the playa de Las Canteras to the north, there are approximately 6 km. It is precisely between these two extremes that most try to find accommodation. The historic center undoubtedly has its charm due above all to its "calles" transformed into pedestrian islands where palaces and churches appear before the discovery of America. The historic center also has discreet night clubs but the heart of the nightlife undoubtedly beats 6 km to the north, in the port area and along the northern stretch of playa de las Canteras, the busiest of the city beaches.

The hilly and mountainous area immediately behind the narrow coastal plain is occupied by residential districts that border on the west in the villages of the inland valleys of Gran Canaria. The uptown has no shortage of attractions and of course offers beautiful views over the lower city. However, they are not very popular with tourists visiting Las Palmas and all in all it could be a mistake to choose a hotel in one of the upper town districts, especially if you have little time for a visit.

In the following section you will find a more detailed guide of the city districts and the neighborhoods that compose them.

Neighborhoods

Las Palmas is divided into five administrative districts, each consisting of several districts (barrios) marked by the Roman numbering system:

• Vegueta, South Cone and Tafira - The first district houses the historic center identified with the "La Vegueta" district (literally "Small flat"). so called because it extends over the narrow coastal plain formed as a result of sediments carried by rivers and streams which have their sources in the mountainous area immediately to the west. Tafira is the name of a popular district south of the center and" South Cone " a group of equally popular neighborhoods.Both areas have no tourist interest, except perhaps for the playa de la Laja, a long gray beach that reveals its volcanic origin and frequented almost exclusively by locals. Vegueta district and its surroundings formed the urban limits of Las Palmas until the mid-nineteenth century. From that time on, the city expanded rapidly thanks mainly to the settlement of British colonists dedicated to trade and various entrepreneurial activities. urban expansion followed a northward direction until it covered the isthmus and reached "la Isleta", the promontory where the lighthouse is located, largely inacce ssible because it is occupied by a military base.
• Center - Triana and Ciudad Jardin are the two most touristic districts of the 2nd district. The first is located immediately north of the historic center and is separated from it by the river bed which is partly not visible because it is covered by the final stretch of the "carrettera del centro". It takes its name from the neighborhood of the same name Sevillian and it was, until the construction of the Puerto de La Luz, a district of sailors coming mostly from Seville. Its main axis is "Calle Mayor de Triana", transformed into a pedestrian area. It is a shopping street but at the same time of tourist interest because of the liberty style houses that overlook it. Ciudad jardin is a residential district built in the 1930s on a project by the architect Miguel Martín-Fernández de la Torre, an exponent of architectural rationalism. Within the confines of the neighborhood is the Santa Catalina hotel, the most prestigious in Las Palmas. Other attractions are the Doramas park and the Canarian Pueblo, a reconstruction of a typical Canarian village.
• Puerto-Canteras - The most touristic district of the city, as evidenced by the high concentration of hotels and clubs of various types that has no comparison elsewhere. Puerto is the port district on the east bank centered on the Catalina pier where cruise ships dock and the park of the same name where the major city festivals take place, including carnival. Further south, between the military port and the marina reserved for private yachts, lies the renowned beach of Alcaravaneras with numerous sports clubs. Canteras is the neighborhood on the opposite bank, extending along the beach of the same name, the busiest in Las Palmas. Both districts occupy the area of ​​the isthmus beyond which the promontory and the popular district of Isleta extend. Guanarteme is the elongated district along the entire southern stretch of Canteras beach. Right at the extreme south of the beach is the Alfredo Kraus autitorium, the Centro Comercial Las Arenas, clubs and restaurants of various kinds including the ubiquitous Mc Donald's.
• Ciudad Alta - A predominantly residential neighborhood, where the Estadio de Gran Canaria, the Feria Internacional de Canarias (FIC) or the Institución Ferial de Canarias (INFECAR) are located, which hosts various fairs and exhibitions throughout the year.
• Tamaraceite-San Lorenzo- The largest of the 5 districts but also the one with the lowest population density. It is located west of the upper city and like that occupies mainly mountainous terrain. Its neighborhoods located along the motorway ring around Las Palmas known as "Autovía Santa Catalina-Lomo Blanco" have experienced a surprising building boom in recent years but their tourist interest remains minimal.

The city has five beaches, the most important of which is Las Canteras. The other four are: the Alcaravaneras, Confital, San Cristobal and La Laja. Alcaravaneras, is located near the port and in the waters of Puerto de la Luz, which is framed between two yacht clubs.

Squares

• Plaza España: one of the city centers, just off Avenida y Mes López.
• San Telmo: located in Triana, at the end of the shopping street. Characterized by the presence of terracotta houses, liberty style kiosks, with tables and chairs for relaxing under the palm trees.
• Plaza de Santa Ana: the square is located in front of the main entrance of the cathedral, with the famous green stone dogs; the palaces are worth a visit Consistorial House (old town hall), Regental House in the front and the Palacio Episcopal (Bishop's Palace).
• Market Square: located at the beginning of the Carretera del Centro between the districts of La Vegueta and Triana. The name comes from the large market building on the south side of the square, with a good selection of local foods.

How to get

By plane

Gran Canaria has a modern international airport with links to Madrid, Barcelona is Bilbao, but also with the UK and other destinations ofEurope and theNorthern Africa. Ryanair flies from the airports of Pisa, Bologna, Bergamo-Orio al Serio is Milan-Malpensa while the Vueling. Connections to the center are ensured by various bus lines such as bus number 60 which leaves every 30 minutes. The ticket cost € 2.30 for the 2016 San Telmo Station and € 2.95 for the Santa Catalina terminus.

By car

• GC-1 runs through the city, connecting with the airport and other important municipalities.
• GC-2 connects the city with the northern area, which extends as far as Agaete.
• GC-3 connects to the other three roads.
• GC-4 connects Las Palmas with the communities in the center of the island.

On boat

Each year, approximately 1,000,000 ships anchor at the port of Las Palmas, known as "Puerto de la Luz", including cruise, merchant and passenger ships. Numerous ferries ensure daily connections with the others Canary Islands and with the port of Cadiz, on the Spanish mainland. The crossing from this last port to Las Palmas takes on average 45 hours.

Naviera Armas operates connections to and from Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Tenerife and other islands. Acciona Transmediterránea operates the Las Palmas-Cadiz line with or without intermediate stops plus other internal ones. Most of the connections between the islands are managed by fast ferries. Residents of the Canary Islands are entitled to discounted rates.

By bus

Intercity buses are operated by the company Global, ☎ 34 902 381 110, @[email protected].. Most of the lines start and finish in the city of Las Palmas. 

Las Palmas has two terminus for both municipal and regional buses:

• Estación de Guaguas de San Telmo in the city center.
• Intercambiador Modal de Santa Catalina near the port of the city. This station is also served by the public bus system and taxis.

How to get around

By public transport

Las Palmas has the best bus system in the entire archipelago and one of the best in Spain. The service is provided by:

• Guaguas Municipales, ☎ 34 928 446 500. Bright yellow buses are known simply as guaguas. The fare, which is paid directly to the driver, is € 1.40 (2016). A 10-ride card is available for € 8.50 in authorized shops in the city: the card costs € 1.50, but can be recharged up to a maximum of € 50 (2016). 

For those over 70 it is possible to apply a 50% discount on all bus trips over 11 km. In order to access this discount you need to request a card (cost € 5) and bring a passport photo with you.

The most important bus lines have frequencies between 3 and 15 minutes during the day and between 10 and 40 minutes at night. The most useful lines for a tourist are:

• Line 1 Theater - Puerto
• Line 12 Hoya de la Plata - Puerto
• Line 30 Alameda de Colón - Santa Catalina

By taxi

If you see a free taxi pass (with green light) you just have to call it with your hand. Alternatively, you can wait at one of the 42 stops or book one by calling 34 928460000, 34 928469000 or 34 928154777.

By car

Heavy traffic on business days and in some shopping areas can make driving really uninspiring. The road network of the city is not characterized by straight streets and therefore it is possible to get confused, especially if you do not know the area well. Parking in the city is also quite expensive in most areas. There is, however, a positive side: the price of gasoline which is much cheaper than in the rest of the Spain andEurope. There are no toll roads, and entrances, exits, main roads and major areas are all well signposted.

By bike

The use of bicycles is encouraged by the municipality which has made available to tourists and residents 13 collection and delivery points for this simple means of locomotion. Each of these points is equipped with a panel with detailed information about the use of the rental arrangements. The panel is also enabled to withdraw a rechargeable card that allows the use of the bike. You can get updated information on the website of the managing company, the LPA bybike. The island of Gran Canaria has the largest number of cycle paths (carriles bike) of the Canary Islands. In the urban area of ​​Las Palmas there is only one cycle path but more than enough to cover the needs of a passing tourist. This in fact touches the major points of interest and goes from the Vegueta district (Old Town) to the beach of las Canteras and from the Auditorium to the park of Santa ' Catalina to the boulevard Olaf Palme, in the far north of the town. In any case, it is not recommended to ride on roads reserved for car traffic if you are not used to the type of local driving. The bike rental system is integrated into the public transport of Guaguas Municipales and those who register must show up at one of the bus terminals for confirmation, but this second step will soon be no longer necessary.

What see

• 28.1008-15.414721 Catedral de Santa Ana, Calle Espiritu Santo 20, ☎ 34 928 314 989. Admission € 3. Opening hours: Monday - Friday: 10.00-17.00; Saturday: 09.00-14.00. The construction of the cathedral, dedicated to Saint Anne, patron saint of the city, began around 1500, but was stopped due to lack of funds in 1570, and the long construction process meant that quite different styles such as late Gothic were combined in the temple of the interior and the neoclassicism of the exterior. The construction of the cathedral took place in two major phases, the first from 1497 to 1570 and the second from 1781 to today. In fact, the cathedral remained closed to worship until 1998 due to restoration work. Inside you can admire several works of art, including the Christ by Luján Pérez, who presides over the chapter house and the Virgen de los Dolores de Vegueta. The Cathedral of Las Palmas was the only cathedral in the Canary Islands until 1819, when the diocese of San Cristóbal de La Laguna (also called "diocese of Tenerife") was erected with its seat in the cathedral of La Laguna, responsible for the islands of province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The main portal is open only during services, otherwise it is accessed through the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art. 
• 28.10138-15.414392 Christopher Columbus House Museum (Casa Museo de Colón), Calle Colón, 1, ☎ 34 928 312 373. free entry. Mon - Fri: 09.00-19.00; Sat: 10.00-18.00; Sun and holidays: 10.00-15.00. Set up in one of the most interesting buildings in the old district of Vergueta which was the residence of the first governors of the Canaries and hosted Christopher Columbus during his first voyage to the Americas, when he made a stop in the Canaries to have the Pinta carried out repairs. The building is the result of interventions from various eras and looks like a mixture of various architectural styles that give it a rather singular air. It consists of thirteen rooms gathered around two large patios. In one of the two courtyards there is a well from the late Gothic period of a certain value. The collections are divided into five thematic areas: 1. Columbus and his travels 2. Canary Islands, a strategic springboard towards the new world 3. America before its discovery 4. The island of Gran Canaria and the city of Las Palmas 5. Paintings from the 16th to the 20th century. A library with about 25,000 volumes is attached to the museum. 
• 28.10101-15.413513 Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno (CAAM), Calle los Balcones, 11, ☎ 34 928 311 800. Free entry. The museum, housed in the old headquarters of the Banco de España, was inaugurated in December 1989 after a restoration of the interior by the architect Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza. It has a permanent collection of around 2,500 works, most of which come from America, Africa and Europe. 
• 28.10176-15.413664 Ermita de San Antonio Abad. Located on the square of the same name, it is a small church from 1757, built on the site of an older chapel, where, according to tradition, Christopher Columbus would have stopped to pray for divine favor on his journey into the unknown. Today it serves as the exhibition space of the Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno. 
• 28.10402-15.415885 Pérez Galdós House-Museum, Calle Cano, 2 and 6, ☎ 34 928 366 976, 34 928 373 745, @[email protected]. € 3. Reduced to € 1.50 for young people between 18 and 23 and seniors over 65. Free for under 18s. Free admission for all on the first weekend of each month. Tue - Wed: 10:00 - 15:00. Thu - Sun: 10:00 - 19:00. The birthplace of Benito Pérez Galdós where the writer lived until the age of 19. 
• 28.09962-15.415426 Canarian Museum, Calle del Dr. Verneau, 2, ☎ 34 928 336 800. Founded in 1879, the museum has the largest collection of pre-Hispanic objects in the Canary Islands dating from 500 BC to the 15th century. 
• 28.14123-15.429727 Elder de la Ciencia y la Tecnología Museum, Parque de Santa Catalina, ☎ 34 828 011 828, @[email protected]. Tuesday-Sunday: 10.00 - 20.00. Interactive Science Museum. Includes a planetarium, a space station replica and a 3D cinema. It was inaugurated in 1999 in the park of Santa Catalina on the initiative of a private foundation that still manages it with the participation of the Canary Islands government. It was obtained from the headquarters of "Elder Dempster Lines Lt", a shipping company of British interests, active in the last decades of the nineteenth century. 
• 28.1203-15.42768 Pueblo Canario, Calle Francisco González Díaz, s / n. The Pueblo Canario is the reconstruction of a typical Canarian village conceived by the artist Néstor Martín Fernández de la Torre in 1937 and built two years later by his brother Miguel, an architect by profession, with funding from the municipality of Las Palmas. The idea behind the project was to document tourists of the time on the history of the Canaries. The complex occupies an area of ​​3,500 m² within the Doramas park in Ciudad Jardín, the neighborhood planned by Miguel Martín himself a few years earlier. The complex of buildings is gathered around a central square where concerts and outdoor folklore shows are held, aimed at foreign tourists. The square is overlooked by a handicraft center and a Canarian "bodegón", which serves as a retrospective exhibition of local culinary art. Inside there is the "Centro de Iniciativas Turísticas". 
• Néstor Museum, Calle Francisco González Díaz, s / n (Pueblo Canario, Doramas Park), ☎ 34 928 245 135. Monday-Friday: 10.00-13.00 and 16.00-20.00. The Néstor museum is an art gallery where works by the artist Néstor Martín-Fernández de la Torre (1887 - 1938) are exhibited. The museum is located inside the Pueblo Canario, the complex designed by the artist and built by his brother Miguel. 
• 28.1487-15.42489 Castillo de la Luz, Calle Juan Rejón, s / n, ☎ 34 928 463 162. Tue - Sat: 11am - 7pm. Sun and holidays: 11:00 - 14:00. 16th century fortress with defensive functions against pirate attacks. Today it is the seat of the "Fundación de Arte y Pensamiento Martín Chirino", dedicated to the work of Martín Chirino, a sculptor born in Las Palmas. 

Events and parties

• Carnival. As famous as that of the neighbor Santa Cruz of TenerifeBut different and in some ways even better, the Las Palmas carnival is undoubtedly spectacular. It generally lasts 25 days so if you want to participate, you will have to select the dates of the events accompanying the event on the official website. To help you in this task, the following information is provided on how the recurrence is structured.

Opening gala - The opening gala is called "el pregón" (announcement of the celebration) recited in sung form by "el pregoner", an artist or group of well-known artists who usually accompany themselves with a guitar. The announcement took place in the past from the balcony of the consistorial house on the plaza Mayor of Santa Ana, in front of the cathedral, but since 1996 it has been moved to the Santa Catalina park, the hub of almost all carnival events.

Gala de la Reina - The key event of the Las Palmas carnival is the "Gala de la Reina" where a female beauty is selected who will carry the title of carnival queen for a year. About 4,000 people attend the event which in itself constitutes an impressive choreographic show.

Drag Queen Gala - Equally famous and undoubtedly even more phantasmagoric is the "Drag Queen gala" during which the competitor with the most artistic skills is selected. The participants are not exclusively exponents of the male or trans gender as one might at first assume; since 2008 women are also admitted to the competition. In 2010 a woman with the stage name Drag Noa took second place. Past editions of the gala have been cheered by internationally renowned artists such as Gloria Gaynor, Sister Sledge, Alaska, Viola Wilson, Village People, Holly Valance, Mónica Naranjo, Boney M, Bonnie Tyler, Gloria Trevi.

There are 4 other minor galas, one of which is dedicated to children and another to the disabled.

Great Cabalgata - It takes place on the Saturday following the closing of the two major gala described above. It is undoubtedly one of the events with the greatest number of visitors. The parade celebrates the queens of the carnival on the city streets and consists of a procession of richly decorated floats accompanied by the groups of comparsas and murgas described below. The route runs for 7 km from one end of the city to the other and goes from the Castillo de la Luz to the Pérez Galdós Theater Theater.

Carnaval de Día - This is the masked party on Shrove Tuesday celebrated both in the park of Santa Catalina and in the streets and squares of the ancient barrio of Vegueta.

Murga - A competition in which singing groups of 25/30 people compete, including children under the age of 16, all with colorful masks and costumes. The event is accompanied by intense musical rhythms.

Comparsas are other groups that parade during the event together with the murgas. Each appearance is characterized by 3 main components: "batucada" which is entrusted with the execution of the musical rhythm, "parranda", the singing component and the "cuerpo de baile", or the choreographic element.

Other competitions accompanying the carnival are the following:

Maquillaje corporal - A body painting competition that takes place in Santa Catalina park.

Carnaval Canino - A competition for dog lovers where dogs of various sizes compete. The first prize is reserved not for the most beautiful dog but for the one with the greatest talent and it could not be otherwise as it is a competition linked to the carnival.

Theme nights: During the nights of the Carnival a series of celebrations (mogollones) take place and some are marked by a particular theme such as the "Noche de la Salsa".

Entierro de La Sardina - As in the rest of the Spain, the Carnival ends with the "Entierro de La Sardina" (funeral of the sardine). A funeral procession winds through the city streets usually on the Saturday preceding Ash Wednesday to the beach of Las Canteras where a large sardine will be placed on a boat and then burned, including fireworks, singing, dancing and booze that will last until the first light of dawn. 

• International Music Festival of Canarias. January February. International classical music festival that takes place simultaneously also in Santa Cruz. The first edition of the festival was celebrated in 1985. 
• Gran Canaria Marathon, Calle Diego Vega Sarmiento, nº7-9, ☎ 34 928 07 0912, @[email protected]. Annual event, January. Marathon that takes place in the city on a 10 km course, including beaches. The event is sponsored by the municipality. 
• Festival del Sol. February. The first edition of the festival, whose official term is "Festival de cine Gay y Lésbico de Canarias", dates back to 2006 and from the following year a parallel edition takes place in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. 
• International Film Festival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. End of March - beginning of April. Annual film festival whose first edition dates back to 2000. The films are screened in the hall of the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium where the award ceremony also takes place. 

Religious anniversaries

• Easter (Semana Santa). Annual event with variable dates. Still very much felt, Easter involves spectacular processions in the wake of those that take place in Seville. The Catholic holiday is a good time for a visit for those who prefer folkloric aspects. 

• Nuestra Señora de la Soledad. Good Friday every year. The most revered sacred image of the city is taken every year on Good Friday from the church of San Francesco d'Assisi where it is kept and carried in a solemn procession through the streets of Vegueta. 
• Rain of petals (Lluvia de pétalos). Every year at Easter. A floral offering to the Blessed Sacrament that takes place in the cathedral on Ascension Day. The first edition of the shower of petals dates back to 1649. The petals are thrown from the internal dome of the cathedral onto the public attending the religious function, at the moment of the presentation of a precious monstrance for Eucharistic adoration. 

• John's night. 23 - 24 June. It is tradition that on the night of San Giovanni, which marks the beginning of summer, residents and tourists go to the Paseo de La Canteras to watch the fireworks and enjoy a night bath in the waters of the beach of the same name. The festival attracts thousands of people and is celebrated everywhere in Gran Canaria, in the villages as in the renowned seaside resorts of the southern coast. 
• Christmas. Annual December 25th. The holiday season is also a good time to be on the beach as your teeth chatter in continental Europe. Con l'occasione è "issato" sul paseo di Las Canteras, un gigantesco albero di Natale di colore bianco a simulare la neve che su Las Palmas non è mai caduta, almeno da quando l'essere umano ha appreso il metodo scrittura. In occasione del Natale è anche preparato un presepe artistico interamente in sabbia sulla spiaggia Las Canteras. All'iniziativa può partecipare chiunque purché rediga domanda sul official site. 
• Romería de Vegueta. Festa cattolica celebrata nella zona di Vegueta. 

What to do

• Sport da spiaggia. Essendo una città con un lungo e svariato fronte marittimo, Las Palmas si rivela una località particolarmente adatta per una moltitudine di sport e attività da spiaggia, dal surf allo snorkeling, dal volley beach alla pesca sportiva o semplicemente per abbronzarsi su una sdraio.

• Surfare. Il surf è praticato su una qualsiasi delle cinque spiagge cittadini. Sulla spiaggia Las Canteras i surfisti si danno appuntamento a "La Cícer", come viene chiamato il primo tratto dell'arco meridionale dell'arenile. Qui il moto ondoso è più forte perché non protetto da scogliere. 

• Giocare a golf. Si può giocare a golf nei seguenti campi: 

• 28.124863-15.4446031 Las Palmeras, Avenida Doctor Alfonso Chiscano Díaz, s/n., @[email protected]. Oltre al campo da golf, l'impianto dispone anche di 6 campi da tennis. 
• 28.031284-15.4599942 Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas, 2 Santa Brigida, ☎ 34 928 35 10 50. Campo con 18 buche. 

• Esplorare la città e i suoi dintorni con un bus turistico pubblico, conosciuto familiarmente come guiriguagua.

Shopping

Nel centro della città è possibile trovare negozi oppure grandi magazzini come "El Corte Ingles". Ci sono prodotti elettronici a buon mercato e souvenir.

Per i prodotti alimentari, "Hiperdino" è una catena di negozi che ha una buona gamma di prodotti e di prezzi fissi. Alcuni di questi negozi hanno anche una buona selezione di vini.

• 28.12861-15.448041 Centro Comercial Las Arenas, Carretera. del Rincón, s/n (All'estremità meridionale della spiaggia Las Canteras), ☎ 34 928 277 008. Il più grande centro commerciale di Las Palmas e anche il più rumoroso. Le voci delle folle di avventori rimbombano fino al punto da causare mal di testa 
• 28.1418-15.42732 Centro Comercial El Muelle, Muelle Sta. Catalina, s/n, ☎ 34 928 327 527. Centro commerciale che ha il pregio di sorgere in un'ottima posizione sul molo di Santa Catalina con belle viste sulla città dal terrazzo. Lo shopping è secondario rispetto al panorama, dato che i negozi sono ancora pochi se confrontati con gli altri centri commerciali. 

Interessante è anche visitare uno dei mercati dell'isola: se non per comprare prodotti, almeno per poter cogliere un po' della vita dell'isola. Nei mercati si possono anche assaggiare prodotti tipici.

• 28.147631-15.4290983 Mercato del Porto (Mercado del Puerto), Albareda 76, ☎ 34 928470208. Vicino alla spiaggia Las Canteras, il mercato si trova in un edificio costruito nel 1891 in stile modernista. 
• 28.133478-15.4329594 Mercato Centrale (Mercado Central), Galicia, ☎ 34 928243769. 
• 28.102548-15.4133875 Mercato di Vegueta, Mendizábal 1, ☎ 34 928334129. Primo mercato della città, aperto nel 1787, sulle sue bancarelle si possono trovare prodotti freschi provenienti da tutta l'isola. 

How to have fun

Se avete una conoscenza di base del castigliano potreste consultare le pagine del quotidiano La Provincia dedicate all'intrattenimento con una lista di vari eventi in corso o prossimo venturi a Las Palmas.Il quotidiano presenta anche recensioni di locali e ristoranti ma in questo caso è meglio mostrare diffidenza perché potrebbe trattarsi di pubblicità a pagamento (non ancora segnalata dai giornali spagnoli).

Shows

• 28.13-15.449011 Auditorio Alfredo Kraus, Avda. Príncipe de Asturias, s/n, ☎ 34 928 491 770. Realizzato tra il 1993 e il 1997 su progetto dell'architetto spagnolo Óscar Tusquets è un edificio singolare costruito sul basso promontorio che delimita a sud la "playa Las Canteras". La sala dei concerti è molto suggestiva grazie a un'ampia vetrata che prospetta sull'oceano 
• 28.103633-15.4140612 Teatro Pérez Galdós, Plaza Stagno s/n. Triana. Il più importante teatro di Las Palmas è dedicato a Benito Pérez Galdós (1843-1920), scrittore e politico nativo di Las Palmas, considerato il rappresentante di punta della corrente letteraria del realismo spagnolo. A lui è dedicato anche il monumento di grandi dimensioni sulla piazza del teatro. 
• 28.10187-15.414823 Teatro Guiniguada (Cine Avellaneda), Calle Mesa de León, 2 - Vegueta, ☎ 34 928 32 18 07. Ubicato in un imponente palazzo del 1938, il teatro chiuse i battenti nell'anno 2000 per riaprirli 11 anni dopo. 
• 28.1-15.4566674 Estadio de Gran Canaria, Barrio de Siete Palmas. Stadio del calcio inaugurato nel 2003 e sottoposto a lavori di ampliamento nel 2014. La sua capacità è di 32.392 spettatori. Vi si sono esibiti cantanti di fama internazionale come Pitbull (2012), Sting (2011), Shakira (2006) ed altri 
• 28.102778-15.4572225 Gran Canaria Arena, Calle Fondos de Segura, s/n. Il palasport ove nel 2014 si svolsero le gare della coppa mondiale di pallacanestro. Vi hanno luogo anche eventi culturali di vario genere. 

Night clubs

• 28.13908-15.429936 Chester Lounge & Bar, Calle Simón Bolívar, 3, ☎ 34 628 137 306. disco bar 
• 28.13825-15.430787 ^{[link not working]}Discoteca Fortuni, Calle los Martínez de Escobar, 1, ☎ 34 928 229 507. 
• 28.10252-15.415788 ^{[link not working]}The Paper Club, Calle Remedios, 10. La discoteca preferita dagli studenti universitari. Dispone di una terrazza dove appartarsi se si è stufi del chiasso. 
• 28.13122-15.444259 NYC TAXI RockBar, Calle Numancia, 25, ☎ 34 928 220 861. blues e rock music. 
• 28.1025-15.4152810 La Azotea de Benito, Plaza Hurtado Mendoza s/n, (Al 2° piano del Centro Comercial Monopol), ☎ 34 928 492 766. Cocktail bar 
• 28.1486-15.4310711 Ginger, Paseo las Canteras, 2, ☎ 34 696 728 992. 
• 28.14049-15.4320512 ^{[link not working]}Bar Da Vinci, Calle Ripoche, 6, ☎ 34 928 492 766. 
• Tropical Muelle deportivo, CC Sotavento (Plaza Hurtado de Mendoza o Plaza Las Ranas). Potrete sorseggiare il vostro drink tropicale sulla terrazza, sul tetto, con vista sulla città. 
• 28.13817-15.4357513 Bodegón Pachichii, Calle los Martínez de Escobar, 51, ☎ 34 646 621 842. Un classico per bevande a basso costo. Frequentato da giovani. Atmosfera informale 

Where to eat

Molti ristoranti hanno menù in una grande varietà di lingue, e camerieri in grado di conversare nella tua lingua.

Moderate prices

• La Dolce Vita, Calle Agustín Millares Torres, 5, ☎ 34 928 31 04 63. 13:30 - 15:00 e 20:30 - 22:30. Dom chiuso. Ristorante italiano rinomato per la pastasciutta e poster di film del neorealismo appesi alle pareti. 
• 28.13585-15.431741 Pomodoro, Ruiz de Alda, 24, ☎ 34 928 227 488. Buona qualità, a basso prezzo, cucina italiana, veloce, ambiente confortevole. 

Average prices

• 28.13386-15.43392 ^{[link not working]}Sakura I, Calle Néstor de la Torre, 29, ☎ 34 928 248 221. Buona qualità, buon prezzo, cucina giapponese. 
• 28.13217-15.432143 Samoa, Valencia, 46, ☎ 34 928 241 471. Mart - dom: 12:00 - 16:30 e 19:30 - 24:00. Favorito della gente del posto, per il buon cibo a prezzi non alti 
• McDonald's. McDonald's è presente con svariati ristoranti in città; Tutti sono situati in punti altamente turistici per cui ve li troverete praticamente sotto il naso, non appena usciti dall'albergo. Uno di questi è al centro commerciale El Muelle. un altro sulla piazza di Spagna, un altro nei pressi dell'Auditorium e del Centro Comercial Las Arenas e un altro ancora al n°103 del calle Mayor di Triana. 

High prices

• Galia, Luis Morote, 49, ☎ 34 928 223 219. Ottima cucina francese, vale il prezzo. Non è economico, ma è l' ideale per chi ha voglia di una piccola pazzia e un po' di lusso. 

Where stay

Moderate prices

• 28.13936-15.434061 Residencia Ibiza, Nicolás Estévanez, 31, ☎ 34 928 263 312. Molto semplice, ma pulito ed economico. 
• 28.13061-15.430462 ^{[link not working]}Hostal Alcaravaneras, Calle Luis Antúnez 22, incrocio con Calle Alfredo Calderón, ☎ 34 636 225 556 (cell.). Un luogo pulito ed economico. 
• 28.13043-15.431233 Hostal Falow, Calle Alfredo Calderón 25, ☎ 34 928 230 627. Molto pulito, accogliente e particolarmente economico. Dispone di servizio di wi-fi. 
• 28.10293-15.416244 ^{[link not working]}Hotel Madrid, Plaza de Cairasco, 4, ☎ 34 928 36 06 64. Il Madrid è un vetusto e storico albergo nel quartiere di Triana, rinnovato e tirato a lustro senza minimamente intaccare l'atmosfera originaria. Nonostante i ritocchi è meno confortevole di altri della stessa categoria. Alle pareti del suo ristorante sono appese foto di clienti più o meno illustri. Spicca la foto del generalissimo Francisco Franco che alloggiò al Madrid tra il 17 e il 18 luglio del 1936. 

Average prices

• Hotel Verol, Calle Sagasta, 25 (A 20 m dalla spiaggia Las Canteras), ☎ 34 928 262 104. Piccolo albergo a 3 stelle con 43 stanze inaugurato nel 1967 
• 28.13388-15.433565 Hotel THe Fataga, Calle Néstor de la Torre, 21, ☎ 34 928 290 614. 
• 28.13488-15.438516 Hotel Apartamento Bajamar, Calle Venezuela 34, ☎ 34 928 276 254. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Apartment Hotel situato a 70 m dalla spiaggia di Las Canteras, vicino al centro commerciale di Mesa y Lopez Avenue; 19 monolocali arredati con cucinotto. 

High prices

• Hotel Reina Isabel, Calle Alfredo L Jones, 40 (Spiaggia Las Canteras), ☎ 34 928 260 100. Albergo a 4 stelle costruito nel 1965. Oggi appartiene alla catena alberghiera "Bull Hotels". 
• 28.121283-15.4278897 Hotel Santa Catalina, Calle León y Castillo, 227 - Città Giardino. Il più prestigioso albergo di Las Palmas fu realizzato nel 1890 con capitali di imprenditori britannici residenti a Gran Canaria. Il suo progetto fu affidato all'architetto scozzese James M. MacLaren e la direzione dei lavori all'architetto inglese Norman Wright, residente a Las Palmas. L'albergo fu costretto a chiudere i battenti poco dopo lo scoppio della 1^to guerra mondiale per mancanza di clienti e nel dopoguerra fu acquisito dal comune di Las Palmas. L'albergo fu inaugurato di nuovo nel 1946. Tra i suoi ospiti illustri figurano Sir Winston Churchill, María Callas, Agatha Christie, Gregory Peck, il príncipe Carlo d'Inglhilterra, vari presidenti di governo e capi di stato. 
• 28.14207-15.43038 AC Hotel Gran Canaria, Eduardo Benot , 3-5, ☎ 34 928 266 100. Albergo a 4 stelle della catena alberghiera Marriott. 
• 28.14834-15.430749 Hotel NH Imperial Playa, Calle Ferreras, 1, ☎ 34 928 468 854. Doppia standard 125 € a notte. Anno 2017. Situato in posizione centrale sul Paseo de Las Canteras, vicino alla spiaggia con lo stesso nome. Un hotel resort e business con vista sull'oceano. 
• Hotel Cristina, Calle Gomera, 6, ☎ 34 928 268 050. Il più rinomato e il più celebre degli alberghi che prospettano sulla spiaggia Las Canteras. Sicuramente l'hotel Cristina costituisce un'istituzione cittadina da quando fu inaugurato nel 1970. È un cinque stelle ma i prezzi delle stanze sono abbordabili anche in alta stagione. 

Safety

Se si dispone di una veranda o patio in piano: non lasciate porte e finestre aperte e incustodite per un periodo di tempo.

Stare lontani da tutti coloro che vi offrono qualcosa gratis simili a biglietti della lotteria o un pasto gratuito.

Alcolismo e prostituzione sono diffusi a Las Palmas. Evitate di imbattervi in gruppi di ubriachi non attardandovi per strada durante le ore notturne, in coincidenza con la chiusura dei night clubs. Chiamate un taxi piuttosto che tornare al vostro albergo a piedi. Scongiurerete così il pericolo che qualcuno vi spacchi una bottiglia in testa per incoscienza dovuta ai fumi dell'alcol.

How to keep in touch

Poste

L'ufficio postale all'interno dei Grandi magazzini "El Corte Ingles" osserva orario prolungato dalle 09:30 alle 21:30 dal lun al sab e dispone di servizi di fermoposta, invio pacchi e trasferimenti di danaro. Stessi servizi presenta l'28.14984-15.426081 ufficio postale di calle Anzofe 18-20, (dietro il castello de la Luz) ma orari leggermente diversi (dalle 08:30 alla 20:30 i giorni feriali e dalle 09:30 alle 13:30 il sabato).

L'28.10647-15.420312 ufficio postale di Triana è situato al n° 62 dell'avenida Primero de Mayo mentre l'28.09663-15.414473 ufficio postale di Vegueta è al n° 28 di Granadera Canaria.

Internet

Nella città ci sono aree pubbliche e private in cui sono disponibili connessioni WiFi gratuite a internet. Tra queste ricordiamo quelle del Centro Comercial Las Arenas e del Centro Comercial El Muelle.

Around

• 28.0593-15.54754 Teror. Villaggio tradizionale dell'interno a 24 km da Las Palmas, famoso per le sue bianche case decorate in legno e per un mercato settimanale delle pulci. Vi si trova un venerato santuario dedicato alla "Virgen del Pino", patrona di Gran Canaria sorto sul luogo ove sarebbe apparsa la Madonna nel 1481. Da Teror potreste proseguire per l'interno dell'isola, paragonato a un Tibet in miniatura, fino a raggiungere il Pico de las Nieves, la vetta più alta di Gran Canaria (1.956 m.) Non tralasciate il Roque Nublo (Rocca Nuvolosa), uno sperone lavico di 80 m. di altezza, assurto a simbolo di Gran Canaria. 
• 27.9355-15.50235 Burrone di Guayadeque (Barranco de Guayadeque). Uno dei più profondi canyon delle isole Canarie, disseminato di grotte che hanno restituito innumerevole materiale archeologico etra cui alcune mummie esposte al museo Canario. Parecchie di queste grotte sono state trasformate in cappelle votive, altre in ristoranti ove è possibile degustare piatti locali come maiale fritto o "papas arrugadas", un tipo di patate locali cotte con tutta la buccia in abbondante acqua salata. La gola è percorsa in tutta la sua lunghezza dalla strada provinciale Gc103 ed è accessibile dal villaggio di Ingenio o da quello poco distante di Agüimes. Il primo è famoso per la produzione artigianale di porcellana mentre il secondo è un grazioso villaggio tradizionale la cui architettura ha ispirato un complesso alberghiero nel centro balneare di Maspalomas. 
• 28.143889-15.6502786 Gáldar. Situata all'estremità nord orientale di Gran Canaria, a una distanza di circa 23 km da Las Palmas, la cittadina di Gáldar è famosa per la "Cueva Pintada", una grotta con suggestivi affreschi pre ispanici scoperta nel 1862. La superstrada si arresta dopo 10 km a Puerto de Las Nieves, un piccolo porto con collegamenti marittimi con Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Da qui una tortuosa strada panoramica conduce a Puerto de Mogán passando per il villaggio "Aldea de San Nicola". 

Useful information

L'ufficio del turismo (Casa del Turismo) dispone di 4 punti informazioni in città aperti con i seguenti orari: dal lunedì al venerdì 09:00 -18:00 e dal sabato alla domenica 10:00 - 14:00. Chiuso il 25 dicembre e il 1 e 6 gennaio.

1. 28.1401-15.430287 Chiosco all'interno del parco Santa Catalina. 
2. 28.140731-15.4278388 Chiosco del molo di Santa Catalina (di fronte al Centro commerciale El Muelle). Aperto solo nei giorni in cui ormeggiano le navi da crociera dalle 8:30 alle 11:00. 
3. 28.10824-15.417269 Chiosco di piazza San Telmo. 
4. 28.10031-15.4161110 Chiosco dell'ex palazzo municipale (Al pianterreno dell'ex palazzo municipale (casa concistoriale) di fronte alla cattedrale (Piazza di S. Anna)), ☎ 34 928 446 824. 

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
• Commons contains images or other files on Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Guida : l'articolo rispetta le caratteristiche di un articolo usabile ma in più contiene molte informazioni e consente senza problemi una visita alla città. L'articolo contiene un adeguato numero di immagini, un discreto numero di listing. Non sono presenti errori di stile.