Vegueta, Las Palmas
Gran Canaria
The founding district of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where Castilian troops set up camp in 1478. Its cathedral, Casa de Colón and El Museo Canario sit in a protected historic ensemble declared in 1973.
Vegueta is the oldest district of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the capital of Gran Canaria. It grew from the camp that troops under Juan Rejón set up on 24 June 1478 on the bank of the Guiniguada ravine, the Real de Las Palmas. Since 5 April 1973 it has been protected as a national historic-artistic ensemble, and it packs the island's cathedral, the Casa de Colón museum and El Museo Canario into a few walkable streets.
Why is Vegueta historically important?
The Real de Las Palmas was the base from which the conquest of Gran Canaria was completed, and the settlement became the island's administrative and religious centre. The Guiniguada ravine once marked the eastern edge of the quarter; it is now covered by a road, which is why Vegueta and the neighbouring shopping district of Triana feel like one continuous old town today.
What should you see in Vegueta?
- Catedral de Santa Ana (Catedral de Canarias): the twin-towered cathedral facing Plaza de Santa Ana, the quarter's main square, flanked by the old town hall (Casas Consistoriales).
- Casa de Colón: a late-16th-century house opened in 1951 as a Cabildo de Gran Canaria museum and study centre on the history of the Canaries and their links with the Americas.
- El Museo Canario: founded in 1879 and devoted mainly to Gran Canaria's first inhabitants; the key collection on the island's pre-Hispanic past.
- Ermita de San Antonio Abad: a small chapel next to the Casa de Colón.
- CAAM (Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno): contemporary art in a restored building.
- Mercado de Vegueta: the traditional food market on the edge of the quarter.
How much time do you need?
The core streets can be walked in an hour, but a half day is more realistic if you go into one or two museums. Opening hours and prices change, so check them on the official websites before you go: the Casa de Colón publishes its hours and fees on casadecolon.grancanaria.com.
When is the best time to visit?
Weekday mornings combine open museums and the market at its busiest. Las Palmas has a mild, often cloudy climate on the north-east coast, so Vegueta works well on days when the south is too hot or the summits are hidden in cloud. During carnival, the city fills with events; see Carnaval de Las Palmas for dates and what to expect.
How does Vegueta fit into a trip?
It is the natural cultural counterpoint to the beach and nature sites: combine it with Roque Nublo in the summits or the Maspalomas Dunes in the south for a varied itinerary. If you are interested in Canary food, the market is a good starting point for the products described in our Canarian food guide.
Don’t miss
Know before you go
- Check museum hours first. Hours and fees change; the Casa de Colón lists them on casadecolon.grancanaria.com.
- Go on a weekday morning. Museums are open and the Mercado de Vegueta is at its liveliest.
- Walk it together with Triana. The covered Guiniguada ravine makes the two districts a single, easy old-town walk.
Getting there
Vegueta is in the south of central Las Palmas, next to Triana. From the airport, Global line 60 runs directly to Las Palmas; from the south of the island, Global lines 30 and 50 link Faro de Maspalomas with the capital. Within the city, Guaguas Municipales operate the urban network (check routes on guaguas.com). Parking in the old streets is limited, so arriving by bus or leaving the car in a public car park nearby is easiest.
