The History of Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria it is believed was populated around 500 B.C. several myths and legends surround the island. One of those theories is that it was part of the lost land of Atlantis the islands were also known as the (Fortunate Islands) because it was thought they clung onto the edge of the world where people had no sorrows. The natives of the Canary Islands were the Guanches who it is thought came from North Africa and descendants of the Berber people. They are known to have existed on a very basic level after archaeologist studied their tools and habitats.

After the collapse of the Roman Empire it seems the canary islands were forgotten and it was nearly one thousand years later the islands were rediscovered by sailors in the 14th century. It was estimated that about 30,000 Guanches were living peacefully on the island at this time. But this was short lived as the Italians, Portuguese and Spaniards who sent ships not only for trade but also for the use of slaves.

In 1483 after five years of fighting the conquest of the island was complete and Pedro de Vera had finished what Juan Rejon had started. The remaining Guanches that survived the war were forced into slavery.

Gran Canaria Culture

One of Gran Canaria’s major cultural developments was the incorporation of the islands to the castillian crown at the end of the 15th century. This was the start of the Hispanic culture that would spread across Gran Canaria and the rest of the islands of the archipelago.

The island today has several interesting museums and culture centres that highlight the past bloody history of the islands. The most recent is the Museo de la Ciencia y la Tecnologia (science and technology museum) also worth visiting is the casa de colon (Christopher Columbus house) these two museums are both located in Las Palmas.

The Island of Gran Canaria became a famous port of call for travelers after the subjugation of the Spanish. More and more travelers started to settle on the island and bring with them their own culture and traditions. The island was attracting a diverse set of cultures originating from the sea travel and brining a young and enthusiastic group of people. With the islands long history and cosmopolitan background the island has become a synonym for culture blends. Festivals and celebrations is a large part of the Canarian culture along with religious and cultural events. The island now can boast international festivals such as the International Film Festival Las Palmas, Festival de Musica, and Festival De Opera and many other events such as the Womad festival.

Climate and Weather

The canaries enjoy a world-wide fame because of there climate the weather in general is mild with pleasant temperatures all year long. For tourist and locals the temperatures rarely get to high and rarely exceed 30c in the summer and with winter highs of around 24c-26c it makes these islands a winter sun destination not to be missed.

Gran Canaria is a very mountainous island with winds and moisture in the mountains and cool and dry air by the sea Gran Canaria is one of the most climatic diverse islands of the canaries.

When to Visit Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is often called the island of eternal spring and this is very true. Gran Canaria is without a doubt a all year round destination and a visit at any time in the year we leave you with you happy memories. During the winter it is slightly cooler than the summer but compared to the weather in Western Europe it is far superior the winter season now between December and February is considered high season in Gran Canaria.

The second busiest season is that between May and October the cool sea breezes can be very refreshing and make a pleasant change from the temperatures that you would encounter on the Spanish mainland at the same time of the year.

Easter in Gran Canaria is a good time to visit but some resorts can be very busy and may worth booking in advance if you know you are going.

Arriving at the Canaries

The Islands are a autonomous region belonging to Spain and travelers arriving in Gran Canaria must be holding a valid passport. For nationals of certain countries and depending on the duration of visit a visa maybe required.

If you’re unsure of your documentation needs then you should contact your Embassy or Consult of Spain based in your home country.
Gran Canaria has scheduled connections to all mainland Spain’s major cities. Major European countries offer a large selection of charter flights into Gando Airport.

Also there are regular ferries and hydrofoil services operating to and from Tenerife, Lanzarote and Furteventura. Passengers arriving by hydrofoil will be arriving into Puerto de la Cruz in Las Palmas.

Vaccinations are not required when visiting Gran Canaria unless you are coming from an infected area.

Canarian Food

The Canarian cuisine is a combination of Spanish recipes with a twist of African and Latin American influences. Original canary island specialties can always be found at local restaurants however this can be difficult in some resorts who’s main supply of food outlets are well known chains or English pubs.

A typical local canary menu would be a soup starter or stew with grilled fish and fresh local salad with Canarian potatoes. An essential part of the island diet is still Gofio a sort of flour made from ground and toasted barley, maize and wheat. This is used in many ways one is to thicken up soups or sauces or can also be stirred into children’s milk. Another use is thickening ice cream as well as making bread similar to polenta when mixed with oil, salt and sugar. Canarian potatoes are many tourists favourite these are potatoes boiled in their skin in seawater then baked in the oven accompanied by two delicious sauces. The mojo pican (red spicy sauce) and the mojo Verde (green sauce) also not to be missed are the local goat cheeses. If you love fish then you will not be disappointed when on holiday in the canaries the most famous fish dish is the Sancocho Canario, which is salt fish and potato stew served with Canarian potatoes with mojo sauce.

Vegetarian’s can enjoy dishes such as potaje de berros (a watercress soup) and sopa de garbanzas (a hot pot with chickpeas) these are two of the best-known local dishes.

For a typical dessert you can try a mixture of honey, almond cream, eggs and rum. Also you could try a wide range of tropical fruits such as mango’s, avocado and papaya fried bananas is a favourite of the locals.

Government of Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria has its own government although it is under Spanish authority. Even before the Canary Islands were declared a single province back in 1821 the competition between Tenerife and Gran Canaria had been intense. When in the new constitution of 1978 Spain created the status of a Autonomous Region for the Canary Islands that means in practice that the islands are not separated from Spain but are given a great deal of freedom regarding island affairs. In 1982 the Canary Islands saw finally their autonomy come true when Santa Cruz for the Western Islands and Las Palmas for the Eastern Islands jointly conduct the government.

Gran Canaria as the third largest island has 15 members in the Canarian parliament of sixty. That sets island budgets and also names representatives to take affairs on the mainland.

All the islands have their own island council with certain powers of self-government and responsibility for running the local services. Then each island is divided into municipalities that are presided over by a mayor with a seat in the town hall. There are 77 municipalities of all the islands put together which Gran Canaria have 21 of them.

Getting from the Airport

There is good transport from the Airport on your arrival if you don’t have any already included in your holiday package. As with all major airport’s there are fleets of taxis waiting to take you to your holiday destination. The taxis are eggshell white in colour and must all display a green taxi sign on top or within the car. All taxis work on a meter so if you are aware that your journey may be along one then it might be cheaper to try the bus service.

Buses operate on a frequent service between the airport and all major tourist resorts. The journey time to Las Palmas in the North of the island is about 30 minutes and to Playa de Ingles in the south is about one hour. Car rental offices can be found in the arrival hall with a wide choice of companies available for price and variation of models.

If you know in advance that you need a car for your holidays it is best to book in advance for the best offer. One of the web sites we can recommend is Car Hire Worldwide offering great availability as well as price.