AboutGranCanaria.info
Gran Canaria
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- Category: About Gran Canaria
- Published on Thursday, 06 September 2012 08:24
- Written by Solheim
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Gran Canaria is a beutiful miniature continent due to the different climates and variety of landscapes found, where centuries of rich history meet natural spots of great beauty. Gran Canaria are close to Europe, 210 km from the northwest coast of Africa. With a wide range of beaches as diverse as the changing sceneries waiting to be discovered. The island is under protection as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
A restless island that changes its aspect at the turn of the road.
Gran Canaria enjoys the best climate in the world.
Most of the tourists visit the southern part of the island, annual visitors is 2.2 million. The north tends to be cooler while the south is warmer and sunny. The east coast of the island is flat dotted with beaches while the western coast is rockier and mountainous. The island possesses 32 natural protected spaces, that they emphasize the Rural Park of Nublo, the Ravine of Azuaje, Doramas’ Jungle, Pino Santo, Tamadaba, to mention some of them. Most tourists stay in the south of the island, which is sunnier and has less rain than the north.
Just below the airport in the town of Vecindario there is a large shopping center “Commercial Atlantico” that includes IKEA Gran Canaria, Carrefour and shopping mall. Vecindario is the town where the “locals” live and there is a significant price decrease from the south. Only a short walk from the shopping mall is an open air market on Wednesday mornings.
In the south there is a large bird park as well as many beach resort communities. The resort communities start in the central eastern part of the southern coast in the Maspalomas area which includes the towns of San Agustín, Playa del Inglés, Sonnenland, Maspalomas and Meloneras. The Dunes of Maspalomas are located between Playa Del Ingles and Maspalomas.
Playa del Inglés is a popular destination for European tourists with bars, restaurants and businesses centered primarily in the shopping center.
Still further to the west along the southern shore, in the Municipality of Mogán, are the communities of Arguineguin, Puerto Rico and Puerto De Mogan, a picturesque village referred to as “Little Venice” on account of its many canals.
Other famous rock formations are El Cura (also known as El Fraile), The Frog (La Rana), Bentayga, the Roque de Gando, and the Peñón Bermejo. The highest peak of the island is the Pico de las Nieves, with 1.950 m
The capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the north of the island, has a vibrant city life. Las Canteras Beach lies in the heart of the city. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is also known for its annual Carnaval.
Gran Canaria was the first stop of Christopher Columbus’ expedition on his way back from the Americas, a commemoration of which is the Hermitage of San Antonio Abad, where the navigator prayed, and the Casa de Colón. Other attractions in the capital city include the Museo Canario (the most important archaeology museum in the archipelago), the Cathedral and the Plaza del Espíritu Santo. The town of Agüimes, on the eastern part of the island, has been carefully restored, and its town centre, centered around its old church and a peaceful square, now evokes the quiet living of a traditional Canarian town. The district also has some of the best preserved cave dwellings, in the protected area of the Guayadeque Ravine, where even the church has been built into the hillside and visitors can find a number of popular cave restaurants.
Other important towns are Telde and Vecindario (within the municipality of Santa Lucía de Tirajana) and Gáldar. In Arucas there is a Neogothic temple, known as “Arucas’ Cathedral”, as well as a large fertile plain where bananas are grown.
In Gáldar and its surroundings there is also a banana-growing plain and some remarkable archaeological remains, such as Cueva Pintada or Cenobio de Valerón’s communal silos, ancient tombs, and the port of Sardina del Norte (one of the island’s ports where, as in Las Palmas’, Christopher Columbus used to get supplies for his ships). In Teror is kept the catholic image of Virgen del Pino, the patron island.
Heading west along the southern coast is the fishing city of Arguineguín in the Municipality of Mogán. The market is held on Tuesdays in Arguineguin. But remember that many of the products sold on the market can be bought cheaper in the shops, not least at the shopping center in Puerto Rico. The market is fun if you like to haggle, but do not expect that you make a good purchase.
What is happening in Gran Canaria 2013
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- Category: Things to do in Gran Canaria
- Published on Monday, 10 December 2012 09:14
- Written by Solheim
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January 6th Dia de los Reyes Magos (Day of The Three Wise Men): This is a big day all over the island and Epiphany is celebrated with street parades in most cities. The Three Wise Men come to town on the evening of January 5th, where they give out sweets to children.
Fiesta del Almendro en Flor (Festival of the Almond in Blossom): This fiesta takes places in early February when the almond trees are in bloom. Celebrated on a grand scale in the towns of Tejeda and Valsequillo, this festival also gives people the chance to taste local produce, such as almond wines and sweets, and to enjoy traditional folk dancing and singing.
February and March.
Carnival around the island: In Gran Canaria, carnival is celebrated in almost every corner of the island and if you want to experience the most famous and exuberant, make your way to Las Palmas, San Bartolomé, Maspalomas, Agüimes, Agaete or Telde, each of these towns’ carnival festivities having their own trademark. Dressing up in colourful costumes, dancing and singing are mainly what carnival is all about. Some people love carnival so much they travel around the island to follow the festivities – there is always a great party atmosphere and much to see.
Enjoy the fantastic shows that include extensive programmes, generally starting with an opening speech (pregón), full of humour and irony. Then, during the weeks leading to the climax of the last carnival weekend – before Ash Wednesday – there are competitions for the ‘murgas’ (typical carnival bands who sing satirical and funny songs), ‘comparsas’ (Brazilian-like carnival dancers) and music groups mixed with many other events like drag queen competitions, comedy shows and much more.
Carnival officially ends with the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, but this is Gran Canaria so head down to Playa del Inglés where the party continues with another weekend of processions and parties held mainly around the Yumbo Centrum.
March/April
Holy Week: During the Semana Santa – the week before Easter – you will be able to see solemn pre-Easter processions, where sacred icons and religious statues are carried through the streets of many villages and towns throughout the island.
April
Rally Islas Canarias Trofeo El Corte Inglés: This is Gran Canaria’s biggest car rally. Attracting many international competitors, its stages include Ingenio to Tejeda, Artenara to Valleseco and Telde to Ayacata.
April 29th
Fiesta de los Aborígenes: This feast day marks the final uprising of the Guanches against the Spaniards and the annexation of Gran Canaria by the Crown of Castile in 1483. There are big ceremonies taking place at Fortaleza Grande near Santa Lucía, as well as music and dancing events.
April 27th – May 4th
Fiestas del Queso: The small town of Santa María de Guía celebrates the making of its famous cheese with traditional music and dancing, along with plenty of cheese-eating.
May 30th
Día de Canarias (Canary Islands’ Day): This is the official holiday for all the Canary Islands. There are celebrations in every corner, including concerts, the traditional Canarian wrestling, folk groups and more, mainly focusing on tradition.
May and June
Corpus Christi: As an act of respect and religious devotion, streets and squares are decorated with beautiful carpets of flowers and in some areas dyed salt is used - a truly impressive display to create a colourful path for the processions. Las Palmas is usually the place to go for the best flower decorations in gran Canaria; a good starting point to visit many other towns and villages for a true feast of colour!
July 16th
Fiesta del Carmen: The Virgen del Carmen is the patron saint of fishermen, that’s why this celebration is so important in all the Canary Islands. This is especially so in Barrio de la Isleta, Las Palmas, Arguineguín and Puerto Mogán where this festivity can last up to one week and statues of the Virgin are taken out to sea in processions of decorated boats.
August 4th
Bajada de la Rama (Bringing down the Branches): This colourful fiesta, one of the oldest on the island, has its roots in the Guanches’ rain dance and is held in Agaete. Nowadays, villagers carry pine branches from Agaete down to a chapel dedicated to the Virgen de Las Nieves. In the old times the aborigines would thrash the ocean waters with the branches to bring the rain in.
September 8th
Fiesta de la Virgen del Pino (Feast of Our Lady of the Pines) is celebrated and numerous pilgrims from all over the island come to Teror to pay reverence to the saint. This feast is not only the biggest event in the region – it is also the most important religious festival on the island’s calendar and the celebrations usually go on for one week.
September 11th
Fiesta del Charco (Festival of the Lagoon): The origins of this fiesta hark back to an aboriginal past. It is held in Puerto de la Aldea, a municipality of San Nicolás de Tolentino. Traditional rituals include villagers wading fully dressed in the lagoon, trying to catch fish with their bare hands and splashing each other with water.
October 13
Fiestas de la Naval (Festival of the Sea): Maritime processions in Las Palmas and other ports commemorate the victory of the Spanish Armada over the British explorer Sir Francis Drake in 1595.
December 13th
Día de Santa Lucía: This winter festival combines Swedish and Canarian traditions and is principally celebrated in Santa Lucía de Tirajana in the southwest of the island.
December 25th
Navidad: There are many traditions to be enjoyed and discovered during Christmas time in Gran Canaria and the nativities play an important role. The village of Veneguera (near Mogán) provides the stage for a popular nativity play on Christmas evening. Playa de las Canteras also organises a very different tradition with Nativity-related sand sculptures. Many international artists are invited and the results are truly spectacular.
December 31st
The New Year celebrations (Nochevieja) usually start with dinner at a restaurant and plenty of fun, music and dancing. Make sure you get your lucky grapes! It is said you’ll be lucky in the next year if you eat 12 grapes at midnight, one per stroke of the clock.
Aqualand Gran Canaria
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- Category: Things to do in Gran Canaria
- Published on Wednesday, 17 October 2012 10:58
- Written by Solheim
- Hits: 146
Opening hours:
From September 1st to June:10.00 until 17.00 hours
July and August: 10.00 until 18.00 hours
Aqualand is the biggest water park in Gran Canaria, Maspalomas. The pool itself in Aqualand water park covers 5,300 metres and the park setting stretches over 90,000 of non stop fun whether you are 3 or 93 years old. Surf Beach, Crazy Race, Congo River, Winder, Aquamania, The exotic mini park, Twister and the Rapids are just some of the 33 slides and attractions that are contained inside Aqualand.
Whilst inside Aqualand water park, if the slides and the pool are not your thing then you can take advantage of the many sunbeds, the mini golf or some of the many restaurants and coffee shops that are around. If you intend to use the pool and the other wet facilities Aqualand water park has changing rooms and lockers where you can store your valuables. Just one more idea to help you enjoy your holiday in Gran Canaria.
Sioux City
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- Category: Theme parks in Gran Canaria
- Published on Wednesday, 17 October 2012 10:39
- Written by Solheim
- Hits: 147
Open daily 10.00 - 17.00 except Mondays
Friday Night open at 20.00 for a Barbecue night
and 90 minutes of a fantastic Wild West show
In Gran Canaria you can find recreation of the American Wild West with cowboys and Indians, gunfights and saloons, and even a petting zoo for the kids.
Originally built as a stage set for 'A Fistful of Dollars' starring Clint Eastwood, Sioux City has since found fame as a popular theme park. Keep your wits about you as you meander along the dusty streets, past the sherrif's office, bank, and general store, for you could get caught in a shoot out. Bank robberies, saloon fights, cattle stampedes, rodeos, and gunfights are all part of everyday life at Sioux City!
If you visit Sioux City on a Friday, stick around for a Wild West BBQ (extra charge), stunts, gunfights, and cancan dancers. It's a wild day out for the whole family!