History
While difficult to be accurate, it its thought that the island of Gran Canaria was first inhabited in the year 500BC. The island’s natural inhabitants were called Guanches and it is thought they were descendants of north-African Berber people. It is known that the Gaunches were a very primitive people for the age in which they lived. Most were cave dwellers although there were some that lived in the most basic of dry stone structures. Archaeologists have uncovered several, very primitive tools and utensils that are thought to have been used by the ancient island dwellers.
In the years following the end of the Roman Empire, the Canary Islands became the forgotten lands of the known world. The inhabitants of Gran Canaria had gotten used to a very peaceful existence and were largely left alone until the 14th century when the Italians, Portuguese and Catalonians began sending naval ships to the island to bring back local commodities and slaves.
The Guanches of Gran Canaria had resisted invasion attempts until1483, when Pedro de Vera commanded the Spanish forces to a successful conquest of the entire island. Many Guanches surrendered or committed suicide and others were murdered by the invading forces. Many of those remaining were subsequently made slaves and forced to convert to Catholicism. The island became part of the autonomous community of The Canary Islands in 1982.
Population
The island is currently the second most highly populated island of all the Canaries with a local population of 845,000. Two out of every five people in the Canary Islands live on the island of Gran Canaria. The island’s capital, Las Palmas, is the largest town on the island and is the capital of the autonomous community of The Canary Islands.
Places to Visit
Puerto de Mogan – This is a hugely popular marina on the island and is home to a range of private boats and yachts. There are a number of exclusive hotels close to the waterfront, as well as restaurants and bars. Boat hire and mini cruises operate from the area.
Cocodrilo Parque – This is a very popular park that is home to several crocodiles, as well as zebras, exotic birds, leopards and monkeys. The park is set in picturesque grounds and there is a schedule of animal shows every day.
Mundo Aborigen – This is a genuine and authentic look at the life of the island’s early inhabitants. There are regular demonstrations of the cooking and tool-making techniques used as well as exhibits and a number of genuine artefacts left by the ancient Guanches.
Cenebio de Valeron – This is another attraction that offers a glimpse into the island’s past and that of its inhabitants. Located in the Cuesta de Silva region, the attraction includes various remains and exhibits, as well as caves and fantastic scenery.
Presa de Chira – Situated near San Bartolome, this is a stunning reservoir, created by a dam. The attraction also includes a hostel and a camping site.
Holiday World – This is a theme park located in Maspalomas and is home to rollercoasters, children’s rides and various sideshows.
Cuisine
The island of Gran Canaria is very popular with tourists from all over Europe. There are a huge range of cuisines available in the larger towns and resorts. As well as the obvious British and Irish pub grub, there are also fast-food outlets, Chinese, Italian and Indian restaurants to choose from. However, there is a huge selection of locally operated Spanish and Canarian restaurants that should be tried. The traditional food of Gran Canaria is a blend of Spanish, Latin-American and Canarian cuisines and is truly unique. Many restaurants on the island will serve both Spanish and international favourites, giving fussy families a wider choice.
As with most areas in Spain, the emphasis is on locally caught or grown produce. Seafood plays a major part in the Canarian cuisine although the islands are also famous for their stews and desserts. The island produces its own cheeses, sausage and honey which are always fresh and tasty. Gofio is a major part of the locals’ diet and is made from the flour of various cereals including barley and maize. It is sometimes used to make bread but is used widely to thicken stews and soups, as well as in various desserts.
The Canary Islands are famous for their papas arrugadas, loosely translated as wrinkled potatoes. The potatoes are boiled in salted water and served as a starter or side-dish with various local mojos or sauces. The mojos come in many different flavours and colours. The caldo de pescado is a local soup and contains different types of fish, depending on the individual restaurant’s recipe. Another favourite fish dish is vieja sancochada, which is a casserole made with sea-bream. The small town of Sardina de Norte is famous for its freshly grilled sardines and takes its name from its favourite dish.
Food on the island is taken very seriously and it is not uncommon for restaurants to own their own fishing boats to catch the daily specials! This ensures customers get the freshest possible seafood at the best prices. Desserts are also a big part of the cuisine on Gran Canaria and a local favourite is bienmesabe, which is a combination of eggs, lemon and almonds. Huevos mole is another local speciality dessert and is made with egg, sugar, syrup and cinnamon. The island also produces its own marzipan pralines in the town of Tejeda and the town of Moya is well-known for its meringues and sponges.
Accommodation
Gran Canaria is now one of Spain’s major tourist destinations and the island is full of hotels, apartments, holiday homes and villas. The nature of the development in the major resorts means that finding suitable accommodation is never too difficult. The south of the island is the most popular area and includes the resorts of Puerto de Mogan, Puerto Rico, San Agustin and the most popular resort of all, Playa del Ingles – ‘Beach of the Englishman.’
The north of the island is much less populated but offers tourists a more secluded and quiet environment in which to stay and has spectacular coastal and mountainous landscapes. Whatever the location, there is no shortage of rooms on the island and various package deals mean that people have the choice of everything from self-catering with kitchen facilities, to fully inclusive deals.
Weather
The south of the island has a fantastic year-round climate that fluctuates very little from season to season. There are 50 weeks of brilliant sunshine every year with summer temperatures averaging in the low 30Cs - although on many days the temperature can reach 40C. The significant breezes that hit the island tend to cool things down, however. The spring months are cooler, but temperatures are still well into the 20Cs and make the island just as popular in March and April as it is in July and August.
The winter brings slightly lower temperatures, however, the average is still in the 20Cs, making the Canary Islands one of the top winter destinations in Europe. The odd rainy day is normal in December and January, however, the downpours are usually confined to a few hours and warm sunshine usually follows. The island can suffer from the odd sandstorm, caused by the ‘calima’ from the Sahara desert.
Transport
There are local bus services that travel to all of the main resorts and towns of the island. Public buses are green and have a number and destination displayed. Taxis are also readily available in the main resorts. It is important that tourists are wary of unscrupulous drivers that reach the end of a journey and claim not to have change. Restaurants and hotels will order taxis on request and this is more likely to result in a driver being honest. There is a tourist bus service that travels to all of the major resorts and provides an information service in English. For the price of one ticket, travellers can get on and off the service as many times as they wish. This is a very cheap way of seeing most of the island’s main resorts and towns.
