No. 32 - Its Gran Canaria Magazine

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52 DISCOVER GRAN CANARIA I DESCUBRE GRAN CANARIA EDICIÓN 32 CENTRAL ROUTE If you are looking to discover some of the most valuable natural jewels and the most charming villages in Gran Canaria, this is the route for you. It will take you to the highest point of the island, where you will get to see some stunning locations, all with a long history and a deeprooted religious culture, as well as build your strength back with some typical local cuisine. We set off from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on course for our first destination, the picturesque town of Santa Brígida, followed by San Mateo, Tejeda, Artenara, Valleseco and Teror. 1. Santa Brígida ■ 2. San Mateo ■ 3. Tejeda ■ 4. Artenara ■ 5. Valleseco ■ 6. Teror Artenara 1. Santa Brígida As we approach the town centre we are struck by its architecture, a peculiar fusion between its agricultural past and modern-day residential buildings, with eminently traditional Canary features. Of special note is the Parish Church of Santa Brígida, with its neo-gothic exterior and a typical island church structure on the inside. Another local attraction is Atalaya de Santa Brígida, an ensemble of cave houses from the pre-Hispanic period where traditions such as pottery are still preserved, using age-old techniques, the results of which can be admired in the Casa Panchito Eco-Museum. At weekends in the town centre, set in a ravine brimming with beautiful palm trees, we can stroll around the market along the high street and pick up some fine local crafts, before stopping off at La Casa del Vino, the perfect haven for sampling a range of Gran Canaria Designation of Origin wines, together with some local cheeses. Villa de Santa Brígida is known for its stunning countryside, featuring the famous Drago de Barranco Alonso dragon tree, perched on a steep cliff in the area of the same name, which is a focal point due to its majestic appearance and the fact it is nearly 500 years old. As we follow along the main road towards Bandama, we come to Monte Lentiscal, where we find the Natural Bandama Monument, a stunning 200-metre deep volcanic crater with a one-kilometre diameter. This is one of the island's most visited attractions, with a viewing point that provides some spectacular views over the capital city and part of the northwest of the island. 2. San Mateo Santa Brígida We now move on towards Vega de San Mateo, eight kilometres on from Santa Brígida. Once we reach the town centre, we must make our way to the old part of town and see its Parish Church, the tree-lined Alameda de Santa Ana and the Town Hall, an exquisite neo-Canarian style building. Another of the places not to be missed is the farmers and crafts market, the main economic driving force of the region, which has become highly popular and which offers all kinds of arts and crafts. The municipality is also home to some unique views over Gran Canaria's hillsides and summit, at Pozo de Las Nieves. Other important landmarks include Hoya del Gamonal, El Roque Cruz del Saucillo, which together make up a protected natural landscape around the summit area and are of high value due to the endemic species growing there. 3. Tejeda As we continue along winding roads, taking in the colours and scents of the surrounding vegetation, we come to Tejeda, officially one of the prettiest villages in Spain. Here we are witnesses to a strong cultural and artistic presence, in the shape of the Abraham Cárdenes Sculpture Museum, the Ethnographic Museum and the Medicinal Plant Centre, which highlights Tejeda's wide variety of local plant species. Paying special attention to the architecture, we divert our course to the Parish Church of Our Lady of El Socorro. A visit to Tejeda is essential for those who wish to learn about the island's rich archaeological heritage, as we come across some archaeological vestiges including burial caves, etchings, paintings and houses. A good example is Roque Bentayga, a sacred site for the aboriginal dwellers, Andén de Tabacalete, Cuevas del Rey and El Roquete- and surrounding area. We set off towards one of the bestknown symbols of Gran Canaria, the Roque Nublo, an enormous basalt rock standing over 70 metres tall, a result of volcanic activity. As one of the most popular picture postcard settings, it is a beguiling sight which will linger long in the memory. We cannot leave Tejeda without sampling its specialities, so we head to the market to pick up some marzipan and the celebrated bienmesabe, made with its famous local almonds, the star product which has its own Almond Trees in Bloom Fiesta, held every February. 4. Artenara Artenara is situated at the island's summit and is noted for its steep orography which is the setting for a di-
EDICIÓN 32 DISCOVER GRAN CANARIA I DESCUBRE GRAN CANARIA 53 Teror verse range of natural spaces, joining up typical interior landscapes with other coastal landscapes. Its territory runs down to the coast, surrounded by huge extensions of Canary pine woodland peculiar to the area of Tamadaba, from where we look down over Agaete and the stunning Teide mountain in the neighbouring island of Tenerife. Likewise, places such as Tirma, Tamadaba, Barranco Hondo and Mesa de Acusa stand out all around. In addition, Artenara is home to archaeological settlements which provide an insight into the lives of the ancient Canary dwellers and archaeological tours to decypher them. We should also not miss going to the Miguel de Unamuno Viewpoint, which provides another fine view over the volcanic crater, the Bentayga and Nublo rocks emerging from the clouds. 5. Valleseco Tejeda Valleseco is a region that was once a huge laurel forest and which today preserves a lush vegetation, so not surprisingly 80% of its territory is designated as a Protected Natural Area. It boasts a wide variety of trails and footpaths and a bastion of laurel woodland of great botanical value at Barranco de la Virgen, located in the Doramas Rural Park, from where we can look out over La Laguna de Valleseco and Pico de Osorio. La Laguna Recreational Area is worth a visit, as it is home to a wide range of Canary flora and has a range of facilities for visitors. Calderetas, another place not to miss, stands out as one of the most beautiul volcanic craters on the island, with its fine blend of natural colours, creating quite a unique picture. Continuing towards Cueva Corcho y Crespo, we discover the vast pine woodland of the Protected Valleseco Summit Area with panoramic views all the way down to the sea. At the municipality's border, we are treated to a landscape of contrasts alongside Gran Canaria's most recent volcano, Montañón Negro. As for cultural heritage, we can see fountains, pillars, irrigation channels and mills of high ethnographic value. We can also visit to the Church of San Vicente Ferrer, probably the town's most important building. 6. Teror The final stage of our route around the centre of the island takes us to Teror. It is a municipality with a huge historical and natural relevance that is also the centre of pilgrimage in Gran Canaria and one of the most important in the Canaries, as for local Canarians we cannot conceive of the town's history without its beloved Virgin of El Pino. Legend has it that on 8th September 1481 a virgin appeared on the top of a pine tree, who they called Virgin of El Pino, the current Patron Saint of the Diocese of the Canaries in the province of Las Palmas and a revered religious figure for the islanders. The Villa Mariana de Teror has a carving of the virgin at the Basilica of Our Lady of El Pino, declared a Historic and Artistic Site in 1979, the most important building in the municipality and one of the leading religious architectural structures in the archipelago. Having seen the religious hub of Teror, we take a stroll around Plaza de Teror and neighbouring areas such as La Alameda, the Town Hall, La Fuente Agria and the Cister Monastery. There is no doubt you will be enamoured by its colourful houses, cobbled streets, typical Canary balconies and the natural surroundings that wrap around the old part of town and adorn most of the region. On the subject of the natural surroundings, we should visit its protected areas at Caldera de Pino Santo, Finca de Osorio, Doramas Natural Park or Agujereada. Teror thus stands as an essential place to visit in Gran Canaria, and is an ideal location for hiking enthusiasts. Finca de Osorio should also not be missed, because it is the maximum expression of nature. The estate is home to trails, mountains and ravines in an ecosystem featuring chestnut trees together with laurel forests, making it a truly magical, relaxing place, perfect to escape our daily routine and to admire nature with no distractions. We cannot finish this route without trying the famous chorizo from Teror. The town centre is the place to go to order a chorizo roll with a strawberry flavoured Clipper, a local soft drink, which is one of the most typical combinations here. If you prefer, you can purchase some delicious pan de huevo (bread made with egg) and cheese, which are sold at market stalls which are open on Sundays.
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No. 32 - Its Gran Canaria Magazine

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