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Historic neighborhood · Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Vegueta
Founding neighborhood of Las Palmas, from 1478, with stone streets, colonial houses with wooden balconies, the cathedral, the Casa de Colón, the Museu Canário and the market.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Vegueta
Vegueta is the neighborhood where Las Palmas was born, on June 24, 1478, when the Castilian troops of Juan Rejón camped beside the barranco de Guiniguada to conquer the island. The camp, called Real de Las Palmas, became a city, and Vegueta was the center of power for centuries.
The stone streets have colonial houses with light-colored façades, stone portals, wooden balconies of Canarian pine and inner courtyards with plants. The architecture mixes Gothic, Renaissance and a distinctive Canarian style that was later carried to American cities such as Havana and Cartagena.
In the center is the Plaza de Santa Ana, with the cathedral on one side, the old town hall building on the other, and bronze dogs, a symbol of the island, which according to one version gave the Canárias their name. Nearby are the Casa de Colón, the Museu Canário, the hermitage of San Antonio Abad and the Mercado de Vegueta, dating from 1863.
At night, especially on Thursdays, Calle Mendizábal and the surrounding streets fill with tapas bars.
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
2 to 3 hours, including interior visits.
Best time
In the morning for the museums and the cathedral, and at night for the tapas bars. On Sundays many places are closed.
How to get there
It is located on the south side of the center, a 10-minute walk from San Telmo station, crossing the avenue over the old barranco from Triana.
Tip
Climb the cathedral tower to see the neighborhood from above. Visit the Mercado de Vegueta in the morning and return in the evening for tapas on Calle Mendizábal.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Vegueta
When was Las Palmas founded?
On June 24, 1478, at the site that today is the neighborhood of Vegueta.
Why are there bronze dogs in the Plaza de Santa Ana?
Dogs are a symbol of the Canary Islands; one version says the name of the islands comes from the dogs the Romans found there.
Does Vegueta have a nightlife?
Yes. Calle Mendizábal and the surrounding area have tapas bars, livelier on Thursday nights.