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Museum · Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Casa de Colón
Former house of the island's governors, in Vegueta, where according to tradition Columbus stayed in 1492, today a museum about voyages to America, with courtyards and Gothic portals.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Casa de Colón
The Casa de Colón occupies a group of old houses in Vegueta, next to the ermita de San Antonio Abad, and was the seat of the governors of Gran Canaria in the 15th century. According to tradition, Christopher Columbus stayed there in 1492, when the fleet stopped in Las Palmas to repair the Pinta's rudder before sailing on to the Americas.
The building was renovated in the 20th century with stone portals and windows in the Isabeline Gothic style and courtyards with wooden balconies, wells and plants. Since 1951 it has been a museum and center for studies on the history of the Canaries and their links with the Americas.
The rooms display Columbus's voyages, with maps, navigation instruments and a reconstruction of a caravel's cabin; the history of Las Palmas since its founding; and the importance of the Canaries as a stop on Atlantic routes. There is also a painting room from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
In the basement, an exhibition deals with pre-Columbian ceramics.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 1 hour to 1.5 hours.
Best time
In the morning or mid-afternoon, combined with the cathedral, a few steps away. Closed on Mondays; check ahead.
How to get there
It is located on Calle Colón, in Vegueta, behind the cathedral, a 10-minute walk from San Telmo station.
Tip
Stop in the inner courtyards, with the wooden balconies and the well. Combine with the cathedral and the Museu Canário, all a few minutes' walk away.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Casa de Colón
Did Columbus really stay in the Casa de Colón?
According to tradition, yes, in 1492, when the fleet stopped in Las Palmas to repair the Pinta. The house was then the seat of the governors.
What's in the museum?
Rooms about Columbus’s voyages, the history of Las Palmas and Atlantic routes, with maps, instruments and a reconstruction of a caravel cabin.
Is the Casa de Colón near the cathedral?
Yes, just behind it, in Vegueta.