Discount Hotels Gran Canaria - Canary Islands
Historical interest: Gran Canaria - Canary Islands
    
The original inhabitants of the Canaries were the Guanche and the Canarios, an
aboriginal people (the current locals are still known as Canarios). They were
followed by a multitude of nationals, including: the Romans (40 BC); the Arabs
(999 AD); and the Geonese, Majorcan, Portuguese and French conquerors (13th and
14th centuries).
The first Spanish conquest was in 1404, and in 1479, the Treaty of Alcácovas
declared Spanish sovereignty over the islands. It was then that the building
of Real de las Tres Palmas was started in earnest.
The city of Las Palmas (Gran Canaria's capital and the largest city in the
Canary Islands) was founded in 1478. Christopher Columbus replenished all four
of his westbound fleets here before continuing to the Americas. In 1936, General
Francisco 'Franco' made these islands the base from where he began his Nationalist
revolt.
Fortunately for many, from the 1950s onwards the main use of the Canaries has
been as a tourist haven. In addition to the influx of tourists, Franco's death
in 1973 caused a movement of more than 15,000 people from EL Aaiún in
the western Sahara.
The tourism industry continues to grow rapidly through the present day, with
the local population of Gran Canaria standing at approximately 800,000 inhabitants.
Selection of hotels in this region:
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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