Gran Canaria

Arucas

Arucas a city with a rich history

Arucas is located in the province of Las Palmas. In 1480 become the city a rebuilt after a complete destruction by the Spanish conquistadors in 1478. Thus far in short the history. The most important sights in Arucas are undoubtedly the church of San Juan Bautista and the Rum Factory Arehucas. The city borders on the foot of the eponymous mountain Arucas, an ancient volcano.

The city Arucas at Gran Canaria
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Arucas is a pleasant town where you can pleasantly shop, eat and drink on a terrace or in one of the cozy restaurants. The fish restaurants are situated on the coastline. In the city and the interior of Arucas serve restaurants like to have their specialty, stews with beans, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and pineapple.

Most stores for shopping you will find in the Calle León y Castillo and Calle Francisco Gourie. These streets adjoin each other. The church of San Juan Bautista is located at the end of the shopping area. ( Map ) Every Saturday morning there is the weekly market which takes place in this shopping streets.

The ancient crafts of Arucas you can also discover it in the stores . Wood carvings, musical instruments, cane baskets, lacework, embroidery and Canarian knives are products those decades long is made by the locals.

Probably you can in the stores also find carvings and fine art in stone, one of the oldest crafts in the the region. Sculpture is a profession that the sculptors have inherited from childhood.

Museum La Cantera in the city of Arucas in Gran Canaria

Church of San Juan Bautista

By far the most important building in Arucas is the church of San Juan Bautista ( Saint John the Baptist ). This majestic church is of great social value for the city Arucas. She was built with stones from Arucas and made by local artisans. The construction was started in 1909 and lasted 68 years. The designer of this basilica is the architect Manuel Vega.

Arucas on Gran Canaria

Not only stonemasons or stonecutters from Arucas built the church. Even artists like the Canarian painter Cristóbal Hernández de Quintana who has left his mark on the many beautiful windows. The sculptor Manuel Ramos has laid his hand on a recumbent statue of Christ.

In the seventeenth century, the chapel was a simple central building turn into a church with three naves in Renaissance style. Since the late seventeenth century on the northern flank was added a clock tower. The facade is in Roman style and built in blue stone from Arucas. In 1846 became the south tower as well a clock .

The altar, the altar table and the niches were been carved from cedar. In the church you can also still see the “Chapel of Our Lady of Carmen” and a baptism chapel. There are still admire many beautiful sculptures and frames.

The church is located on the Plaza de San Juan. In popular parlance is this”Basilica or Cathedral of Arucas” Yet it is neither of them, but simply a church. Originally is the church built on a place where in 1503 stood a chapel and in fact Arucas is arise. The entrance to the church is free. More information over the church of Arucas can be found on the website 

Plaza de San Juan in the town of Arucas at Gran Canaria

Plaza de San Juan

The Plaza de San Juan is since its inception always been the center of the city Arucas. Around this square are historically significant buildings from the 17th to the 20th century. You already know that you are the church of San Juan Bautista can already see from the square. But around this core of the city you can see an evolution of several houses from various centuries. San Juan has a great historical value for Arucas. It is a mixture of religious and national culture.

The Plaza de San Juan has always been the meeting place for merchants and residents of Arucas. In its history, has the square undergone several changes to the 90s. Plaza de San Juan is largely made up of blue stone. In 1914 become this place public lighting.

Important historic houses on the Plaza de San Juan are the parish house, Barbosa house, the house of Rafel Ponce de Armas and La Granado Marrera. The parish house Casa del Cura was built in the 17th century. It is a typical Canarian brick house with whitewashed walls and roof tiles. there is like most Canary houses a courtyard with a Dragon tree (Dracaena draco). The Dragon Tree occurs only in the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and Madeira.

The Barbosa’s house dating from the late 18th century. Remarkably on this house is the cast iron balcony. It is a house with lots of symmetry. The windows and doors are characterized by large pillars left and right. Again, all building materials come from the stone quarries in Arucas.

The house of Rafael Ponce de Armas is situated somewhere in the 19th century. Symmetry is also discernable here. Iron balconies of the large windows are also characteristic of this building. To conclude on this beautiful square we see La Casa Grande Marrero built in 1917. This house is distinguished from the other by a floor. The cast-iron balconies are present here again. The modernist trend of the times is reflected in the use of plant decoration in the pediments. On the ground floor are the first offices of the municipality of Arucas be located.

If you are a lover of vacation photos or videos then this place is definitely recommended for you. A map of the area around the Plaza de San Juan can be viewed here.

Plaza de Constitutión

On the beautiful Plaza de Constitución are two important buildings. The “House of the Church Council” or now “Town Hall” which dates back to 1875 and the building of the covered market built in 1882. Both houses are built in eclectic style.

Particular attention asks the impact of a bullet, located on the front door of the church, caused during the Spanish Civil War. Inside the town hall, in the patio has been placed a plaque with the Royal decree which Arucas declared a city by determining the Queen Regent Maria Cristina .The main shopping street León y Castillo opens onto this square.

The beaches of Costa Arucas

Arucas is not only history and culture. The city can counting on a few beaches. It are sandy beaches with rocky parts here and there. The beaches are guarded, you can then even swim there. Showers are fitted to rinse off the sand.

Arucas Playa de el Puertillo Gran Canaria

The beaches are mostly visited by locals. Characteristic for this part of Gran Canaria are the high waves. Known beaches of the municipality of Arucas are Playa El Puertillo and Playa Los Charcones

Montaña de Arucas

The Mountain of Arucas is for photographers and nature enthusiasts an excellent viewpoint. Here you have a wonderful view of the city Arucas and the northern part of the island. La Isleta in Las Palmas, the Mountain of Gáldar and La Cumbre are just some of the viewpoints they pamper you.

In the depth you also get an overview on the existing banana plantations. The highest point of the mountain is the crater of an extinct volcano. On top of the 300 000 year old volcanic mountain you will find a an arbor and restaurant. If you come by car there is enough parking available.

Heredad de Aguas de Arucas y Firgas

Of all the Gran Canarios is known that since time immemorial, the Heredades (literally translated Heritages) on this island have been becoming the engines as directors and supervisors of the economy, and the wealth and livelihood for our country and our people.

Other attractions that the city Arucas features are Museo Municipal de Arucas, Museo “La Cantera”, Museo Etnográfico “Barrio Antiguo”, Museo “Del Labrante”, Fundación Canaria Mapfre Guanarteme, Yacimiento Arqueologico La CERERA, La Parra Negra, Casa de La Cultura, Casa Consistoral. This we will shortly describe certainly on this webpage

Over the historic city of Arucas is very much to tell. Are you interested in more information about this tourist Canary city, then follow me on to the gardens and the production of the famous rum Arehucas. Until soon