Tourist photographing the colourful balconies on Avenida Marítima in Santa Cruz de la Palma, La Palma

A cultural trip to the Canary Islands

Canary Islands

Many cultures have lived on these Atlantic islands, creating their own identity through hundreds of years of miscegenation. Influences from different parts of the world – Africa, Europe and America – which have created a rich culture present on the eight islands.

Canary Island culture

The first island settlers developed a culture full of forms of expression, such as sculpture, ceramics and other immaterial forms like traditions and customs that have lasted to this day. Songs, dances and other less common expressions, such as Canarian wrestling and silbo Gomero. Cultural expressions that you can discover in the various popular festivals on all the islands. 

Architecture

The buildings on the islands are more similar to those of Latin America than to those of the Iberian Peninsula, with a marked colonial style. Even so, the islands have some examples of contemporary architecture, such as the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and authentic jewels that are a perfect mix of architecture and nature, like the Jameos del Agua by César Manrique in Lanzarote.

View from the beach of the Alfredo Kraus auditorium in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gran Canaria

Art

Thanks to miscegenation, on the Canary Islands you can find artistic references to various styles such as Gothic, Mudéjar, Renaissance and Baroque. And the islands have seen great native artists like César Manrique, Néstor de la Torre, Manuel Millares and Óscar Domínguez. Currently, you can visit some of these artists' works in the Espacio de las Artes de Tenerife or in the Museum of Contemporary Art of La Palma.Visit the Canary Islands and discover an open-minded culture, born from miscegenation.

Entrance to the Cesar Manrique Foundation in Tahiche, Lanzarote
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