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Museum · Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
El Museo Canario
Archaeology museum founded in 1879 in Vegueta, with a collection about the ancient Canarians, such as pintaderas, ceramics, mummies and a room with hundreds of skulls.
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 El Museo Canario
El Museo Canario was founded in 1879 by a group of intellectuals from Las Palmas led by the physician Gregorio Chil y Naranjo and is housed in a house in Vegueta, near the cathedral. It is dedicated to the archaeology of Gran Canaria and to the history of the ancient Canarians, the people of North African origin who lived on the island before the Castilian conquest at the end of the 15th century.
The collection shows how these inhabitants lived: houses and caves, agriculture, shepherding, stone and bone tools, reed textiles and ceramics. The pintaderas, clay stamps with geometric designs, have become a symbol of the island and appear in logos and crafts.
One room gathers mummies and funerary remains, and another, which impresses visitors, has hundreds of skulls and bones displayed in showcases, part of 19th-century anthropological research.
The museum also has a library and an archive on the history of the Canaries.
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
Around midday or on a cloudy day. Check the opening hours, which are reduced on Sundays.
How to get there
It is on Calle Doctor Verneau, in Vegueta, a 5-minute walk from the cathedral and Casa de Colón.
Tip
See the pintaderas and the reconstruction of the cave-houses. The skull room can be upsetting for small children. Visit before going to the island's interior to understand the archaeological sites in the mountains.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about El Museo Canario
What are the pintaderas?
Clay stamps with geometric designs used by the ancient Canarians, today a symbol of Gran Canaria.
Does the museum have mummies?
Yes, along with funerary remains and a room with hundreds of skulls.
Who were the ancient Canarians?
The people of North African origin who lived on Gran Canaria before the Castilian conquest, at the end of the 15th century.