Gáldar, municipality of Spain
Gáldar is a town in northern Gran Canaria with narrow historic streets and traditional buildings that speak to its long settlement. The center organizes around several tree-lined squares, while the nearby coast offers beaches and rock formations suitable for walking and exploring.
Gáldar was once a kingdom of the Guanche people ruled by a local king and became the first city founded on Gran Canaria after Spanish conquest in 1482. The last royal son Tenesor Semidán, later known as Fernando Guanarteme, supported the conquest and helped establish the new settlement.
The name Gáldar likely comes from Berber language, possibly meaning "city wall" or "round enclosures". Walking through the old streets, you see traditional houses and small workshops where locals create pottery and woven crafts that reflect the community's daily life and skills.
The town is easily reached by car or bus from Las Palmas and makes a good base for a day trip. Pedestrian zones in the old town allow comfortable exploration, while nearby beaches and the mountain path to Pinos de Gáldar offer additional destinations.
The Cueva Pintada here displays rare original wall paintings in white, black and red patterns that are thousands of years old and provide insights into ritual life. The cave was a gathering and ceremonial place and was not rediscovered until the 1800s.
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