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Gran Canaria is a miniature continent. An island close to Europe, with a wide range of beaches as diverse as the changing sceneries waiting to be discovered. Nearly 60 kilometres of beaches on 236 kilometres of coastline under a gentle sun that seems to have settled down here for good.
Gran Canaria boasts of its many different types of beaches, the magnet that has lured generations of travellers from all over the globe. Well-known and crowded, such as the long stretch of sand of Maspalomas a huge line of yellow sand stretching from Playa del Inglés to the foot of the great Maspalomas lighthouse, after bordering a dune desert on the island´s southern coastline. The south of the island has yet another long series of beaches. Quiet family ones such as San Agusín, Amadores, and the small Puerto de Mogán. Or lively as the traditional tourist enclave of Puerto Rico, one of the spots with the best weather in the country. A myriad of small beaches in southern Gran Canaria, all boasting of fine weather practically the whole year. Some are for tourists, with a wide range of services. Others are a true shelter for those in need of secluded spots. The beaches on the north of the island fit this profile better, with small sea enclaves such as Agaete the perfect getaway spot for those who wish to leave rush behind. The capital city, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria also in the north does not hide its special pride: the cosmopolitan Las Canteras Beach, an urban mile-long stretch of sand that fills the city with swimmers and surfers. Gran Canaria offers all the services of a guaranteed destination with a long tradition, to which thousands of Europeans return each year. Come see a world of beaches concentrated within an island. Come whenever you like. Our fine weather rarely ever stops to take a break.
Synonymous with the blending of cultures. This attribute of the island is the legacy of its long history as a port of call for travellers, having been a society that is open to everything that arrives to its shores from beyond the seas. The march of time through the islands has left behind an extremely valuable archaeological, artistic, architectural and ethnographic heritage, which bears witness to the cultural evolvement of our island community. This historic heritage, the legacy of the island's own identity, has been enriched and accompanied by multifarious manifestations of art and culture, which has endowed the island with certain unique traits that would be difficult to find in any other territory of such a limited extent. Most of the monuments that can be seen in Gran Canaria date from after the period of conquest, although certain archaeological sites and areas relating to the early inhabitants of the islands have been successfully preserved (such as the painted cave named Cueva Pintada de Gáldar and the Cenobio or convent de Valerón). In addition to the archaeological and artistic manifestations that date from the various early and contemporary moments in the history of this island, which are spread out across the entire length and breadth of the island, Gran Canaria also boasts a broad and varied calendar of cultural activities that take place throughout the year. Even the most discerning public will be delighted by the current cultural life of the islands, which includes concerts, international music and cinema festivals, exhibitions and conference cycles that feature speakers of international renown. One such cultural event that deserves special mention is the internationally famed Canary Islands Music Festival, which takes place at the start of each year, this being the only music festival in the whole of Europe that is held in winter. Practically all the main figures in the music world have participated in this festival, this being the arena for many a debut.
Gran Canaria has a deep rooted golfing tradition. The island was a pioneer in Spain in this sport. The first golf course in the country was inaugurated in Gran Canaria in 1891. This course, used initially by British tourists and residents, was in the middle of the capital city, in the area which is now the central zone of Escaleritas. In 1957, the golf course moved to Bandama, a few minutes drive from the city, where it still bears the name of Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas. The first members of the oldest club in Spain belonged to the significant English colony in Gran Canaria during this period, when European tourists first started visiting the Island. However, not only tradition lies behind golf in Gran Canaria. Over the last few years, a complete infrastructure has been developed around this sport. The island offers a wide variety of courses, adapted to the tastes of the most demanding golfers. Golfers can find eight golf courses on the island all within a 50 kilometer radius. Within a short distance, you can combine several courses in different settings. All of them have been developed by the most prestigious international designers and offer exceptional features for the game. This is why Gran Canaria has become the home of prestigious national and international tournaments over the last few years. It has also consolidated its reputation as an important golf destination among European players. Gran Canaria´s exceptional geographical diversity, its splendid beaches, singular historical, cultural and gastronomic wealth and the wide hotel offer has made our island a favourite spot for holidaymakers looking for something a bit different, not too far from home, with all the advantages of an island which is part of the European Union and the daily incentive of feeding your senses with a whole new world of sensations.
(Source: www.grancanaria.com)
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