Canary Islands

Attractions | Facts | Hotels

Geography: Canary Islands (Spain) is an an archipelago of 13 islands. It is located to the south of the Iberian Peninsula for more than a thousand kilometers from the nearest point of Africa it’s separated by a little more than a hundred kilometers. Seven islands are quite large in size. The Canary Islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean and stretches for 450 km, occupying a total area of ​​approximately 7,500 square km.

Canary Islands are truly a paradise, consisting of 7 main islands (Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Tenerife, La Palma, Gomera and Hierro) and six small islands (Alegransa, Grasiosa, Montaigne Clara, Roque del Este, Roque del Oeste and Lobos ). Each island is different from other by peculiar landscapes that recreate the natural sites in all regions of the planet.

The inhabitants of the Canary Islands a pleasant and cheerful nature, and they are very fond of all sorts of holidays. On the island there are lots of traditional festivals, among which, without doubt, stand out the famous carnivals. A rare inhabitant is not preparing for a few months his carnival costume or not involved in street bands. Carnival is the center of Santa Cruz, whose streets during the holiday turned into a continuous stream of dance and masks, and where several days are not going down the music and lyrics. Carnival is held in February. By popular and favorite holidays in Tenerife are romerias, religious holidays patron saint of a city.

During the holidays you can see the procession of oxen-drawn carts in the original, listen to folk songs. Normally, all members of the holiday are dressed in national costumes. Corpus Christi is an another typical religious holiday, which is usually carried out in La Orotava. A distinctive feature of this holiday – beautiful, multicolored rugs made ​​from flowers.

And in the central square you can admire the beauty of “tapestry” made ​​of special volcanic sand taken from the Las Kanadas del Teide. Interestingly the feast of St. Andrew, held on the night of November 29. This day is traditionally open wine cellars and taste the wine. And in cities such as La Orotava and Puerto de la Cruz, the people, mostly young people, running around the streets with bundles of empty cans that are knocking on the cobbled streets and create a terrible noise. In the town of Icod young people ride on wooden boards along the steep streets.

History:

Happy Islands (Las Islas Afortunadas), Champs Elysees (los Campos Eliseos), the garden of Hesperides (el Jardín de las Hespérides), Atlantis (la Atlántida) … these were the first names of the Canary Islands, found in Greek and Roman manuscripts. It was about an archipelago of volcanic origin, populated by aboriginal tribes Guanchez (guanches) – high, whites people inhabiting the rocky shores, caves and small settlements consisting of round houses. In 1496 this nation has shown great bravery and courage in the fight against joining the Castilian crown. At the same time the ships of Columbus made ​​a stop on the islands of Gran Canaria and Gomera before served in the New World.

Historically, the Canary Islands belong to Spain, which is located to the north-east from them at a distance of 1500 km, and geographically they belong to a group of volcanic islands along with the Azores, Cape Verde Islands and Madeira.

Climate:

Thanks to the smooth, soft and dry climate it’s never too hot or too cold at the Canary Islands. Average monthly air temperature does not drop below 21 ° C (December – February) and did not rise above 28 ° C (July – August).

A water temperature in the coastal zone varies slightly around 20 ° C, so you can swim in the ocean all year round.

Population:

In ethnically homogeneous population of the islands are Canaries who consider themselves descendants of the Guanches – the indigenous inhabitants of the Canary Islands before the arrival of the Spaniards here. According to linguists, they spoke a language belongs to the Berber language group. For several centuries, Spain conquered the Canary Islands and by the end of the XV century. finally mastered them. Part of the Guanches was destroyed, another – quickly mixed with the Spaniards. Furthermore Canaries at the islands live small groups of Spaniards and other Europeans, and Africans, Indians, etc.

Religion:

Almost the entire population of the Canary Islands is a Christian. Christianity began to spread here since the beginning of the XV century. when the four major islands were seized by the Spaniards. Almost all Canaries – supporters of the Roman Catholic Church. Catholicism is deeply rooted in the everyday life of local residents. There are a lot of Catholic cathedrals, churches and other religious buildings at the Canary Islands .

Protestantism holds a fraction of the population of Canary Islands. These are the locals – Canaries, and foreigners – Americans, Britons, a small number of Spaniards from the continent, etc.

The Canary Islands are also a home to a group of aliens who practice Islam or Hinduism. These are mostly from North Africa and South Asia.

Cuisine:

If you decide to rest for a while forget the usual food, local cuisine pleasantly surprise you.

Canarian cuisine – it is simple are nutritious meals. Along with the meals of Spanish origin are present in it Native American, Latino are African recipes. A large variety of fruit and the fish wealth of the island make Canaro food light and nutritious at the same time. Climate is, characterized by a great diversity, the use of simple are conventional products – the main factors affecting the traditional gastronomy of the islands.

On the islands of countless bars, pubs, cafes, fine restaurants, dancing cafes and other establishments offering a choice for tourists both local and European cuisine.

Main food of the Canaries are thick soups. Widespread spices – garlic and saffron. Cool sauce “Mojo” is used as a seasoning for meat and fish. The sauce can be green, if cooked with the addition of parsley, or red on the color of pepper. Also with it are eaten small potatoes in their skins, steamed in salt water. In any cafe you can taste the snacks, which are called “tapas”.

The Canaries cook vegetables very good also (such as peas and beans). The island of El Hierro and Fuertevetura known for its cheeses from goat’s milk, Las Palmas is known for smoked. Delicious desserts are preparing from exotic fruits. Canaries do not recognize the bananas consumed in Europe. These, in their view, only those that were grew on the islands. One of the most popular meals of the Canarian cuisine is fried bananas.

Really recommend you to try the Canary desserts. Most of the desserts on Tenerife are eaten with palm honey. Cheese is made ​​from goat’s milk and served as a snack. Canary cheeses are becoming more popular in the world. The same can be said about some other products produced in the Canary Islands and is in great demand in other countries.

Safety:

In addition to summer and beach wear, do not forget to take a sweater or jacket for evenings and excursions, as well as comfortable shoes for hiking trips. In winter, grab an umbrella or a cloak. At five-star hotels, casinos and posh restaurants men may need a jacket and tie. If you’re used to traveling light, then a shawl rescue the woman on the beach if the wind rises, cool evening and when you visit the church when needed cover her head. Shorts and miniskirts are not allowed in churches. On the beaches have become familiar female bathing suits topless, nudists are hiding in the dunes. In the first day or two, many tourists from cold countries suffer from overheating and sunburn. Try not to sunbathe from 11.00 to 15.00, wear broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses.

Can not be afraid of malaria, but a lot of insects, and remedies against them are necessary, especially in the evenings.

To avoid dehydration, drink plenty of mineral water.