History & Culture

Before the Europeans arrived, Gran Canaria was inhabited by the indigenous Canarians (also known as Canarii or — somewhat inaccurately — "Guanches," although this term strictly applies only to Tenerife). Their origins remain unclear to this day, but genetic studies confirm a relationship with the Berbers of North Africa. They likely settled the island in the 1st millennium BC — and lived there in complete isolation for over 1,500 years.

Society & Lifestyle

The indigenous Canarians of Gran Canaria were remarkably advanced for a Stone Age culture without metalworking:

• Two Kingdoms: The island was divided into two Guanartematos (kingdoms) — Telde in the east and Gáldar in the west, each ruled by a Guanarteme (king).
• Cave Dwellings: They lived in natural and artificially expanded caves (as in Artenara, Gáldar, and Guayadeque) — a practice so practical that it continues to this day.
• Grain Storage: Collective rock granaries like the Cenobio de Valerón were used to store grain (mainly barley) and figs.
• Astronomy: The cave of Risco Caído (UNESCO World Heritage) contains a sophisticated solar calendar — evidence of remarkable astronomical knowledge.
• Religion: The indigenous Canarians worshipped a mother goddess (Almogarén) and held religious ceremonies on sacred mountains — Roque Nublo and Roque Bentayga were cult sites.

Their main food was Gofio — roasted grain flour, which remains the most important staple food in the Canary Islands today. They kept goats and pigs but rarely fished — a mystery given their island habitat. Their clothing was made from goat hides, and they used tools made of stone and bone.

The conquest of the Canary Islands by the Spaniards was a brutal process that lasted almost a century (1402–1496). Gran Canaria was one of the last islands to fall — and put up fierce resistance.

First Contacts

European sailors — Genoese, Portuguese, and Castilians — reached the Canary Islands as early as the 14th century. The indigenous Canarians were surprised by these contacts: They had been isolated from the outside world for over a millennium and were unfamiliar with ships or metal. The first European reports describe them as tall, strong, and fair-skinned — and as brave warriors.

The Conquest of Gran Canaria (1478–1483)

On June 24, 1478, the Castilian captain Juan Rejón landed at the site where Vegueta (Las Palmas) stands today. The conquest lasted five bloody years:

• 1478: Foundation of Real de Las Palmas (today Vegueta). The indigenous Canarians immediately resisted.
• 1479–82: War of attrition. The Spaniards had horses, crossbows, and metal weapons, while the indigenous Canarians fought with stones, wooden spears, and guerrilla tactics in the mountains. Several Spanish expeditions were repelled.
• 1483: The decisive Battle of Ansite: The last Guanarteme Tenesor Semidán surrendered (reports say he jumped off a cliff but survived). Allegedly, hundreds of indigenous Canarian warriors preferred to leap from the cliffs rather than surrender — the Atis Tirma (death vow). By April 29, 1483, the conquest was complete.

The consequences were devastating: War, introduced diseases, and enslavement decimated the indigenous Canarian population. Many survivors were sold as slaves or forcibly converted to Christianity. Their language was lost, and their culture largely obliterated. Yet their genes live on: DNA studies show that up to 20–30% of the Canary Islands' population today has indigenous Canarian ancestry.

Springboard to America (15th–18th Century)

After the conquest, Gran Canaria became a strategic stopover on the way to the New World. Christopher Columbus stopped in Las Palmas in 1492 to repair ships and take on supplies before discovering America (his stay is documented in the Casa de Colón). In the following centuries, Las Palmas became one of the most important ports of the Atlantic — a hub for trade between Europe, Africa, and America.

Sugar, Wine & Cochineal

Gran Canaria's economy went through several cycles:

• Sugar (15th–16th Century): Sugarcane plantations brought immense wealth — the magnificent colonial houses in Vegueta date from this period.
• Wine (16th–18th Century): Canary wines (especially the "Canary Sack") were legendary in England — Shakespeare mentions them in his works.
• Cochineal (19th Century): Cochineal insects on prickly pears provided the coveted red dye carmine. When synthetic dyes emerged, the economy collapsed.
• Bananas (from 1880): The export of bananas to Europe became the lifeline of the islands — and remains so to some extent today.

Tourism & Modern Times

Tourism began in the 1960s when Scandinavian and German tour operators discovered southern Gran Canaria as a winter destination. Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés were built from scratch — the hotel landscape that characterizes the south today was created during this time. Since the 1990s, Gran Canaria has increasingly focused on sustainable tourism, culture, and nature: The UNESCO recognition of the sacred mountains (2019) and the designation of 46% of the island's area as a Biosphere Reserve are important milestones.

Today, Gran Canaria has approximately 870,000 inhabitants and welcomes over 4 million tourists annually. As part of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands, the island enjoys extensive self-governance within Spain — with its own parliament, tax system (IGIC instead of IVA), and strong regional identity.