Guanartemes, writers, artists, politicians and social figures help to make sense of Gran Canaria's role in the region's history.
Biographies linked with Gran Canaria show how wider Canarian processes take shape through concrete people: leaders, artists, religious figures, politicians, scientists or bearers of tradition.
Among its main reference points are Historic Las Palmas, Aboriginal landscape, Natural contrasts, which connect landscape, memory and everyday life. This section connects local memory with the project's general figures section.
Key points
Guanarteme, king of Galdar
The last guanarteme, converted to Christianity after the conquest, whose alliance with the Castilians proved decisive in ending indigenous resistance.
Benito Perez Galdos
The most universal writer born in the Canary Islands, a native of Las Palmas, whose work portrayed nineteenth-century Spanish society with unrivalled critical insight.
Leon y Castillo
An engineer and diplomat born in Telde, driving force behind the Puerto de la Luz and a key figure in the modernisation of Gran Canaria during the Restoration.
Fatima Mernissi
Although not Canarian, her thinking on women and Islam was widely discussed in the university lecture halls of Las Palmas, alongside local authors working in postcolonial studies.
Nestor de la Torre
A modernist painter born in Las Palmas, creator of the traditional costumes of Canarian folklore and a central figure in shaping the visual identity of Gran Canaria.
Figures linked with Gran Canaria
Bonanat Tarí
Franciscan bishop of Telde
1390
Meet figures
Jaume Segarra
Mallorcan merchant and navigator
14th century
Meet figures
Joan Doria
Mallorcan merchant and navigator
14th century
Meet figures
Jaime Olzina
Last bishop of Telde
1411
Meet figures
Pedro de Vera Mendoza
Governor and captain in the conquest of Gran Canaria
1430 - 1505
Meet figures
Guanarteme Tenesor Semidán
Guanarteme of Gáldar
documented during the conquest of Gran Canaria
Meet figures
Luis de la Cueva y Benavides
First Captain General of the Canaries
1528 - 1598
Meet figures
Bartolomé Cairasco de Figueroa
Canon and poet
1538 - 1610
Meet figures
Próspero de Casola
Military engineer
1565 - 1647
Meet figures
Juan de Miranda y Cejas
Painter
1723 - 1805
Meet figures
José Luján Pérez
Sculptor and architect
1756 - 1815
Meet figures
Agustín Millares Torres
Historian, Musician
1826 - 1896
Meet figures
Gregorio Chil y Naranjo
Physician, anthropologist and museologist
1831 - 1901
Meet figures
Juan de León y Castillo
Engineer and public figure
1834 - 1912
Meet figures
Camille Saint-Saëns
Composer, pianist and organist
1835 - 1921
Meet figures
Nicolás Estévanez Murphy
Republican politician
1838 - 1914
Meet figures
Fernando León y Castillo
Politician and diplomat
1842 - 1918
Meet figures
Benito Pérez Galdós
Novelist, playwright and politician
1843 - 1920
Meet figures
Santiago Tejera Ossavarry
Regionalist composer
1852 - 1936
Meet figures
Luis Morote
Journalist, Politician
1862 - 1913
Meet figures
Francisco Suárez León
Painter
1865 - 1934
Meet figures
Nicolás Massieu y Matos
Painter and teacher
1876 - 1954
Meet figures
Tomás Gómez Bosch
Painter, photographer and businessman
1883 - 1980
Meet figures
Tomás Morales
Poetry
1884 - 1921
Meet figures