Triana is the former merchants district in the old town. The adjoining neighbourhood of Vegueta (see nextpost) has governmental buildings dating back to medieval times whereas Triana has more recent residential buildings dating back to the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
Today it is one of the most important commercial areas in Las Palmas, particularly since the pedestrianisation of its main street Calle Triana. My map here.
As I mentioned in a previous post, my employer either uses the Hotel Astoria in Isleta or the Hotel Parque www.hparque.com in Triana in the old town. The Parque is preferred for logistical reasons as it’s next to the Estación de Guaguas (gua gua is the local name for a bus).
The hotel faces onto the Parque de San Telmo. In one corner of the square is the beautiful Art Deco kiosk (quiosco) which houses a café.
Nearby at 2 Calle Buenos Aires at Punto de Información Turística de San Telmo.
At one end of Plazoleta de Cairasco is the Art-Nouveau Gabinete Literario, constructed in 1842.
It was originally a theatre and later became a club, but nowadays it houses a literary society, as well as a restaurant and a cafe.
I only managed to snap a couple of shots inside before the concierge threw me out.
At 6 Calle Cano is the Casa Museo de Pérez Galdós www.casamuseoperezgaldos.com.
On Calle Pérez Galdós is the Modernista Palacete Querego Rodríguez Quegles.
At different times it has housed the Conservatory of Music, the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Government of the Canaries, the Direction of Universities and Research, and the Canary Academy of the Language and is now used as a cultural space.
If you sneak through the front door you can catch a glimpse of one of the beautiful stained glass windows.
Modernisme is my favourite style of architecture and this blue and white confection was my favourite building in the area.
This is another beautiful example of Modernisme.
And here’s another fine Modernista house on Calle Cano.
And there are many more, especially along Calle Triana. Click on the photos to expand them.
I also like more traditional Spanish houses with their balcones cerrados; enclosed balconies that regulate heat and noise from the street.
Some buildings have a Neo-Mudéjar (Moorish revival) features but they don’t seem to be as common as in other cities in southern Spain.
Plaza de las Ranas has a Neo-Mudéjar kiosk…
…and a nice statue with a fountain.
Plaza Alameda de Colon is another pleasant square.
There are a few examples of art deco around.
A more recent Rationalist building is the Cabildo Insular de Gran Canaria, built between 1932 and 1942, on the corner of the Bravo Murillo and Pérez Galdós streets.
And there is the odd Postmodern building in the neighbourhood but they are few and far between.
So Triana is an architectural paradise for building spotters. There’s more to see in Vegueta, the oldest barrio, coming next…