If you’re planning a stay in Gran Canaria, we invite you to linger in Las Palmas, to visit Santa Ana Cathedral. In the heart of the old town, this 16th-century monument is a must-see for lovers ofSacred Art. Like us, you can admire its austere facade, its spider-like vault and the breathtaking view from its south tower. And don’t miss the Diocesan Museum, on the other side of the Patio de los Naranjos.
In this article, you’ll find a selection of useful tips to help you prepare for your visit. We tell you more about this unique building!
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Content
Why visit Santa Ana Cathedral in Las Palmas?
Is the Cathedral worth it? Our opinion:
Yes, Las Palmas Cathedral is well worth a visit, for several reasons:
- Its historical importance: it was the first church built in the Canary Islands, by order of the Catholic Monarchs, after the conquest of Gran Canaria in 1478.
- Unique architecture: the cathedral was built over 4 centuries, and features 3 different architectural styles (Gothic, Renaissance, Neoclassical).
- Its Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art features numerous sacred objects and religious paintings, as well as works by Spanish sculptor and architect José Luján Pérez.
- Its breathtaking panoramic view of the city of Las Palmas and the Atlantic Ocean from the cathedral’s south tower.
It’s one of the city’s richest cultural activities, and we’ve selected it as one of our 12 must-dos in Las Palmas.
Why is Santa Ana Cathedral famous?
Gran Canaria’s Las Palmas Cathedral is the Canary Islands’ most emblematic architectural monument. It is a blend of particularly remarkable architectural styles (Neoclassical, Renaissance and Gothic), as its construction began in the early 16th century and was not completed until 4 centuries later.
The presence of the Musée Diocésain d’Art Sacré (Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art) in its south wing contributes to its reputation. But it’s also the splendid view, from the south tower, of the city’s rooftops and the ocean that attracts visitors. Not to mention its strategic location in the heart of the historic Vegueta district, on the Plaza de Santa Ana.
Our favorite moments
We visited the cathedral on a rainy winter’s morning. Fortunately, the weather changes quickly on the islands, and we were able to take advantage of the exceptional light to enjoy both the view from the roof and the play of light in the nave.
- The ceiling of the 3 naves impressed us greatly. The tierceron ribs of its structure appear almost metallic, as the grey tones of the stone contrast with the naked whiteness of the walls.
- The 360° view from the south tower is splendid. On one side, the hills of the city and the staircase of buildings as far as the eye can see; on the other, the blue of the Atlantic Ocean and the ballet of boats entering and leaving the port.
- The Patio de los Naranjos (Orange Tree Courtyard) is a peaceful garden between the Cathedral and the Diocesan Museum. A fragrant haven of peace, with lush vegetation, where we lingered for a long time.
WHERE TO STAY IN Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels
In the old town, surrounded by charming alleyways.
Hotel Cordial Plaza Mayor de Santa Ana – see photos and availability
On the Playa de las Canteras side, a long sandy beach.
Hotel Maresía Canteras Urban – view photos and availability
Near Playa de la Alcaravaneras, a less touristy area.
Hotel Santa Catalina, historic – see photos and availability
See our selection of the best hotels in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
History in brief
Las Palmas’ Santa Ana Cathedral is the first church in the Canary Islands. Its construction was ordered by Los Reyes Catolicos, Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon, after the conquest of Gran Canaria in 1478. Work began in 1500 and spread over 4 centuries.
The cathedral’s architecture reflects the economic fluctuations of the Canary Islands over the years. When industrial prosperity allowed (sugar cane, bananas, cochineal…), parts of the cathedral were completed, but when money ran out, work was halted. Different styles coexist within the building.
Access: Santa Ana Cathedral, Las Palmas
Where is Santa Ana Cathedral?
- Santa Ana Cathedral is located in the historic heart of Las Palmas.
- Vegueta district
- Plaza de Santa Ana
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Gran Canaria
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- If you’re planning to explore the mountains, don ‘t take the smallest cars. A more powerful engine will be more comfortable.
- But don’t take too big a car either, as some roads are narrow.
- There’s a lot of demand and it’s an island, so book early.
How to get there?
To get to Santa Ana Cathedral, you have several options:
- By car: the site is well signposted and easy to get to, but traffic can be very heavy (especially in summer).
- By public transport: the cathedral is in the heart of Las Palmas’ historic Vegueta district. There are numerous bus stops nearby.
- On foot: the streets of Vegueta’s historic district are narrow and many are pedestrianized. It’s best to walk here, especially in summer.
Parking
Santa Ana Cathedral is in the city center. There are several parking lots nearby:
- Parking Mercado de Vegueta, opposite the market on the seafront
- Parking Vegueta, the covered parking lot in the historic center
Out of season, it’s also possible to find spaces in the streets adjacent to the Plaza de Santa Ana.
Useful tips: duration, schedules, eating…
Best time to visit
The cathedral can be visited at any time of day. Its freshness is particularly pleasant in the hottest hours. Nevertheless, we recommend that you visit in the morning, especially at the height of the season, as you’ll find it quieter. In any case, it’s best to avoid service times, unless you want to attend a mass.
You can then enjoy the lively streets of the historic Vegueta district. Why not plan a private walking tour of Las Palmas, where you can discover the cathedral and other highlights of the capital with a local guide.
As part of the Ciclo de Órgano Histórico de Canarias, organ concerts are held in Santa Ana Cathedral. Its Portell organ dates from 1862 and is a marvel. Come and enjoy the acoustics of the building, another way of discovering it. Find out more here.
Length of visit and main difficulties
It takes between 30min and 1h to visit the cathedral, climb to the top of the tower and visit the museum.
To access the cathedral roof from the south tower, you can use the elevator rather than the 162 steps leading up to it. However, there is only one staircase from the roof to the top of the tower (some 50 steps).
Finally, the Musée d’Art Sacré is spread over 2 levels, with the first floor accessible only by a staircase. Find out more here.
Advice on how to visit
We first took a tour of the interior of the cathedral and its 11 chapels, before walking up to the roof to admire the panoramic view over the city. We continued our ascent to the top of the tower, then descended to visit the Diocesan Museum, passing through the Patio de los Naranjos.
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Schedules and rates
The cathedral is open:
- Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- on Sundays, only the tower is open.
Visiting times are subject to change due to religious services. The Musée Diocésain d’Arts Sacré remains open during these celebrations.
Price: €6
Reduced rates and free admission conditions here.
Guided tour
An audio guide can be accessed directly on your phone by scanning a QR code. It is available in 4 languages (French, English, German, Spanish).
Catering
There are plenty of restaurants in the lively streets of the historic Vegueta district, all around Santa Ana Cathedral.
A 6-minute walk further north, in the Triana district, we really enjoyed the cuisine at Restaurant Que Leche, a fusion of Canarian specialties with influences from elsewhere.
Our article on where to eat in Las Palmas will be available soon.
Las Palmas Cathedral, an architectural gem
What impressed us most were the different architectural styles of Santa Ana Cathedral. This is due to the fact that the building was constructed over several centuries.
The neoclassical façade
On the Plaza de Santa Ana, in the heart of the historic Vegueta district, the dark silhouette of Las Palmas Cathedral stands out. The architecture of the façade is neoclassical. It was the 2 twin towers, representative of this style, that caught our eye. One houses the bell, while the other is the south tower, from which the roof of the building can be accessed.
On the other side of the square, we were intrigued by the 8 life-size bronze statues of Canarian dogs, which seem to stand guard. The story goes that these dogs lived on the island before the Spanish settled there. They are said to be the work of French sculptor Alfred Jacquemar.
The 3-nave Gothic structure
The interior of Santa Ana Cathedral impressed us greatly, with its Gothic structure of 3 naves, separated from each other by slender, open palm columns. Little is known about the details of the original plans. The building is built in the shape of a Latin cross, and its transept is crowned by a cupola.
The blue stone from the San Lorenzo quarries used for the columns, arches and tierceron ribs of the vaults contrasts with the white plaster of the walls. We loved the effect of this light, porous volcanic stone, which here takes on a particularly spectacular metallic sheen.
We also loved the cathedral’s colorful stained-glass windows. The windows are small and set high up, like openings at the top of the walls, to highlight the distinctive ceiling.
Remarkable works in the 11 chapels
The chapels of Santa Ana Cathedral are home to a number of remarkable works of art not to be missed. Among them are statues sculpted by one of the Canary Islands’ greatest 18th-century sculptors, José Luján Pérez. His highly realistic polychrome wood sculptures depict religious figures.
There are also some very fine old paintings, some by the famous 18th-century Baroque painter Juan de Miranda, also from the Canary Islands. During our visit, one of the Diocesan Museum’s latest acquisitions, an 18th-century representation of the Virgin Mary, was on display in the Chapelle Sainte-Thérèse.
The breathtaking view from the top of the South Tower
We then began our ascent of the cathedral’s south tower: 162 steps (or elevator) to the roof, and another 50 or so to the top.
The panorama from the cathedral roof
The roof of the cathedral offers a 360° panoramic view of the city of Las Palmas. It’s a privileged vantage point from which to contemplate the capital of the Canary Islands in its entirety and appreciate its rich architectural heritage. On the east side, you can enjoy clear skies and views of theAtlantic Ocean over the rooftops of the Triana and Vegueta districts.
On the west side, we overlook the Plaza de Santa Ana and Las Palmas Town Hall below. We enjoyed watching the clouds gather over the colorful buildings, set in staircases on the slopes of the “riscos ” San Juan, San Roque and San Nicolas. In our opinion, it’s well worth climbing up there to discover the city.
Climbing to the top of the tower
We climbed another fifty or so steps, the last ones, to finally reach the top of the cathedral’s south tower. The view isn’t much more spectacular than at roof level. We only felt as if we were standing on top of the North Tower steeple, with just the sky above our heads.
From up here, it’s easy to see the distinctive architectural features of Vegueta’s historic quarter, with its bell towers, flat roofs and colorful walls. They stand in stark contrast to the city’s other, more modern and less picturesque neighborhoods.
Sacred art treasures at the Musée Diocésain
To discover the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art, go through the Puerta del Aire, near the entrance to the cathedral. A Renaissance-style door opening onto the Cour des Orangers.
A stroll through the Patio de los Naranjos
We loved lingering in the Cour des Orangers. It’s a magnificent little interior garden, located in the south wing of the Santa Ana Cathedral. It is planted with orange and palm trees, and surrounded byarcades and galleries. Its peaceful, shady atmosphere makes it a haven of freshness and tranquillity in the heart of the imposing religious building..
With its elegant colonnades, passageways and carved wooden decorations, this courtyard is considered one of the finest examples ofRenaissance architecture in the Canary Islands. The Musée Diocésain d’Art Sacré (Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art) is located in this idyllic, verdant setting.
Temporary exhibitions
The Diocesan Museum houses a rich collection ofSacred Art, including paintings, sculptures, silverware and textiles that reflect the history and religious devotion of the Canary Islands. Part of the museum’s first floor is dedicated to temporary exhibitions.
During our visit, there was an exhibition dedicated to the cross, “El Árbol de la Vida”. We were able to see crosses of all kinds, in ivory, mother-of-pearl, silver or bronze, or in precious carved wood, as well as representations of Christ.
The permanent collection
We ended our visit by exploring the museum’s permanent collection, which continues on the second floor of the building (no elevator). We were able to admire paintings, sculptures and other liturgical pieces, created between the 16th century and the present day. Some of the pieces are truly beautiful. They bear witness to the talent and devotion of local artists.
But it was the building’s Renaissance architecture that most delighted us. Carved woodwork, dark parquet floors, openwork passageways opening onto the patio… The place is enchanting. There are also polychrome mosaic floors, such as the one in the Salle Capitulaire. It dates from the 18th century and comes from the famous Manises factory, near Valence.
And don’t miss the chapter house library. It houses 4,000 books, including 21 manuscripts. They began to be assembled in 1515, at the same time as the cathedral was being built.
Frequently asked questions
What other historic sites can you visit in the Vegueta district of Las Palmas?
Just a 1-minute walk from the cathedral, you’ll find the Casa de Colón museum dedicated to Christopher Columbus. The building housed the navigator before his transatlantic voyages. The museum’s collections are now dedicated to him. Find out more here.
Our article on the Casa de Colón Museum will be available soon.
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PLAN YOUR TRIP TO Gran Canaria
- Best of
Best things to do in Gran Canaria
Most beautiful landscapes
Most beautiful towns and villages
Most beautiful beaches
Best natural pools
Archaeological sites
Best museums
Best boat tours (coming soon)
Secret places, off the beaten track
- Practical advice
25 tips for a successful trip to Gran Canaria
When to go?
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Itineraries: 3 days – 4 days – 5 days – 6 days – 7 days – 10 days
- The must-dos
Las Palmas and its historic center
Dolphin watching in Gran Canaria (coming soon)
Maspalomas dunes
Puerto de Mogan (Little Venice)
Agaete and its natural pools
The magnificent town of Agüimes
SHE MADE THE TRIP Claire
