Urban geotourism in the historic center of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain)

Abstract

<p>Urban geoturism is a relatively recent type of tourism that has increased a lot in recent years. The elaboration of geotouristic trails is the main way to develop this type of tourism in cities. Urban geotourism aims at exploiting the cultural heritage (churches, hermitages, cemeteries, houses, squares, streets, etc.) and the urban layout itself. But too the geographical and natural elements (volcanoes, ravines, cliffs, beaches, dunes, etc.) that have not been wiped out by the urban growth and transformation processes. In this study we have chosen the old centre of las Palmas de Gran Canaria (LPGC) in Gran Canaria. The Canary Islands are an active volcanic region located in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, about 100 km off the west coast of Africa and at a subtropical latitude. The choice of the city of LPGC is due to the fact that it is the main city of the Canary Islands (378.675 inhabitants) and has one of the oldest, largest and best preserved centers in the Canary Island. The aim of this work is to propose an urban geotourism itinerary through the historical centre of Vegueta and Triana neighbourhoods in LPGC city (Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain). The methodology will consist of identifying, selecting and characterizing different geomorphosites in the city (cliffs, beaches, fossil dunes) and describing the main types of stone used for the construction and ornamentation of buildings from the foundation of the city in the 15th century to the present day. Based on the variety of resources identified and inventoried, we have proposed a geographical urban geotourism itinerary to satisfy and diversify the tourist offer of the city, which consists of 24 points distributed between the historic neighborhoods of Triana and Vegueta, in which elements of the volcanic heritage of the island and/or that present important natural and cultural value linked mainly to religious (10) and civil (15) heritage. This proposed route is of low difficulty and can be done in two hours. The material identified mainly in elements of the facades of the buildings is gray, white, and green ignimbrite and scoria volcanic rocks. Part of this material comes from the Tirma, Teror and Galdar quarries. Elements of sandstone, limestone, pumice, organogenic sand, boulders, red scoria were also identified, as well as structures with the presence of sandstone as cement. (Volturmac-MAC2/4.6c/298).</p>