Winter Sun – Las Palmas La Vegueta

Last time we were on Gran Canaria we took a day trip to Las Palmas, the capital city. It was a great day if a little rushed as we did the trip by bus and had no real plan.

This time we thought we’d do a mini city break to end the holiday and stayed a couple of nights in the old town of La Vegueta. We dropped the car at the airport, checked into our fabulous apartment and headed back out to see the sights at a more leisurely pace than last time.

But first it was time for lunch in a great little Tapas place outside the cathedral.

The Catedral Metropolitana de Santa Ana de Canarias dominates the old town and looks magnificent on a sunny day.

The Plaza Mayor de Santa Ana it overlooks is also magnificent and after lunch we sat in a sunny spot and watched the world go by for a while.

The square is surrounded by some wonderful old colonial buildings.

We took an aimless wander about the town, through its many narrow streets. We came across another fine public square at La Alameda.

They do city squares and parks so much better on the continent.

We also came across this rather grand building the Gabinete Literario.

They were setting up for some huge Epiphany party the next day (we sneaked a cheeky look inside before being ushered out)

This the city’s main shopping thoroughfare.

And we wandered through the bus station and under the coastal motorway for a view of the seafront on the industrial port side of the city.

Before a walk back through more of the narrow streets.

And grand old buildings back near the cathedral.

Can’t remember what this wonderful building was, possibly a library.

Next day our weather luck seemed to have run out as it was raining when I picked up the bread. Not deterred we took to our feet between the showers finding another fine little square and fountain, the Plaza del Espíritu Santo.

We planned on a look inside the cathedral and nature presented us with the perfect opportunity as it started to rain as we approached. We dived inside.

Its much bigger inside than it looks from the outside, another magnificent example of ecclesiastical splendour.

It has the excellent bonus of allowing you up onto the roof. A great view down over the now rather wet Plaza Mayor de Santa Ana.

Over the roof of the cathedral.

Not quite the blue skies of the previous two weeks but very atmospheric views of the dark clouds (although it didn’t rain again for the rest of our stay.)

I’m a sucker for any kind of high view of city rooftops.

From the highest towers and even better view over the Plaza.

And across the rooftops to the port.

There is also a fine little cloister and garden on the way out.

One of the best cathedrals I’ve been in for a while, but I am biased by any opportunity for a rooftop view.

We spent the rest of our day just wandering about aimlessly, eating lunch and an extended afternoon at a nice Jazz cafe planning future holidays.

Nothing better to take away the pain of a great holiday coming to an end than to plan another one.

Another view of the Library?

Plaza Mayor de Santa Ana and the statues of the dogs the islands are named after.

A very striking building of which there are many in Vegueta.

Just one final day in Gran Canaria and a chance to see the other side of the city, literally and metaphorically.