Las Palmas
Province and capital of the Canary Islands and tourist resort on Gran Canaria; population (2000 est) 352,600. It lies in the northeast of the island on a narrow coastal strip, with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and cliffs containing rock houses on the other. Products include sugar, bananas, and tobacco, and the area is an important tourist and administrative centre. Its port, Puerto de La Luz, is a hub of trade in the Archipelago, with fishing, servicing of fishing fleets, and the supply and refuelling of transatlantic ships being its most important industries.
History
The city was originally founded in 1478 by the Castilians who conquered the island. They introduced sugar cane to the island and produced sugar for the European market. The early city was built around the plaza of Santa Ana, where construction of a cathedral was begun in the 15th century. The city's port was located in the northern side of the town. The settlement was fortified in the face of threats of attack by sea, and it did not expand beyond the city walls until the 19th century.
| The Italian navigator and explorer Christopher Columbus visited the islands during his voyage to the Americas, and a museum in Las Palmas is dedicated to him. Other features include a Gothic cathedral built to commemorate the finding of the ‘New World’ and other museums and art galleries, including the Centro Atlantico de Arte Moderne. |
Las Palmas
| Province of Spain in the Canary Islands autonomous community, comprising the islands of Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura; area 4,072 sq km/1,572 sq mi; population (1991 est) 749,500. Las Palmas is one of two provinces in the Canary Islands, the other being Santa Cruz. The capital is Las Palmas. Tourism is important. Fruit is cultivated, especially bananas, and there is some fishing also. |
| The province contains archaeological evidence of the existence of the Gaunches, a population dating from ancient times, which includes rock paintings in caves near to Las Palmas city. The area was colonized by the Spanish in 1478, by Castilians under the orders of the Catholic monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand. The islands were used to cultivate sugar cane for European markets. |
| There is a museum dedicated to the Gaunches in the city of Las Palmas. |
