We Visited 4 Fantastic Museums In The Canary Islands

You may think that the Canary Islands mean only beach, sea and fun. But these fantastic Spanish islands have so much more. Like so many other places in the world, they have an interesting history. For this reason, we want to propose a small list of museums in the Canary Islands so that you can include them in your list of plans. There is always time to learn!

History of the Canary Islands

There are many conjectures about when the colonization of the islands began. However, the first evidence places us in the 3rd and 1st centuries BC, when the Phoenicians or the Romans could have brought the first settlers to the islands.

But the great pages of history come when the kingdom of Castile conquers the archipelago at the end of the 15th century. From that moment, the islands became a basic point for trade with the Indies, as ships stopped there to stock up.

During the last contemporary period, the Canary Islands had to face trade problems, but also other kinds. For years there were disputes over where to locate the provincial capital. Finally two capitals were configured, Tenerife and Las Palmas.

List of museums in the Canary Islands that you must visit

Now that it is clear that the history of the Canary Islands has as much to tell as any other place, it is time for you to discover the best museums to learn about them :

1. Colon House

It was the place where the governors of the islands resided. It is located in Gran Canaria and inside there is a collection about the discovery of America. Columbus himself came to sleep in this house on two occasions during his travels to the New World.

Currently, this place has been restored as a museum and is divided into five sections. The collections include maps, plans and models on the journey to the New World. Also a reproduction of one of the caravels, navigation instruments, etc. But above all, the museum tries to portray the role of the Canary Islands in the discovery of America.

It can be visited from Monday to Friday from 9 to 7 in the afternoon, and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 to 3. Except on May 22 and December 24 and 31, which is closed.

2. Canary Museum

As its name suggests, it is a museum that houses a collection that tells the entire history of the Canary Islands and its population. It is a portrait of the life of this archipelago. It is, again, in Gran Canaria. It was founded in 1879 by citizens who wanted to create a place where all the historical heritage of the islands was collected.

For this reason, in the museum there are collections of all kinds: objects, figures, archaeological remains, etc. There is also a library where works from different periods are preserved. It can be visited from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

3. Museum of Nature and Man

This museum is located in the Old Civil Hospital of Tenerife, built during the 18th century. Its appearance makes it one of the most important buildings on the island, since its facade is an example of the neoclassical architecture that developed on the islands.

It is one of the most important museums in the Canary Islands, as it has a very detailed collection of how they emerged more than 20 million years ago. For this reason, in the museum you can discover how the islands emerged to the surface, see some fossils of birds and remains of the first settlers of the islands.

4. Llano Cave

It is located on the island of Fuerteventura, the first to be formed of all the Canary Islands. This is one of the Canarian museums that can fascinate you the most if you travel with children. In it, you take a trip to the interior of the earth to see first-hand how the island was formed and what animals lived there.

The cave emerged 800,000 years ago and inside there is an interpretation center. During the visit, you can see fossils and the different levels of sediments that have formed the cave over the years. But the most outstanding thing is that the cave is inhabited by a unique species, similar to a spider and that is in danger of extinction.

The museum can be visited on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 to 3 in the afternoon, and Saturdays from 3 to 5.30. The rest of the days it is closed.

These are some of the most interesting museums in the Canary Islands, but there are more. You can visit the Cueva Pintada Archaeological Park in Gran Canaria, the Salt Museum in Fuerteventura and the History Museum in Tenerife. Enjoy them!

Cover photo: Jose Gonzalvo Vivas / Flickr.com