Routes through the City

Historic Center of Arucas


The modern town as the origin of the old centre arose during the second half of the 19th and the early 20th century. Most of the buildings that you will be discovering date from this period. The new image of this architecture is a reflection of the economic and social bourgeois power and the aesthetic trends of the time. These magnificent buildings and the priceless work of local quarry workers were awarded when the area was declared a Historic and Artistic Complex in 1976.

Saint John Square


This is one of the town´s oldest and most central venues. Just by looking around the square, you can see how the buildings in the old centre of Arucas have evolved, with buildings dating from the 17th, 18th, 19th y 20th centuries. This architectural complex attains its greatest splendor with the principal façade of St John Church.

Church of Saint John Baptist


The church of St. John Baptist, built entirely by hand, is loyal testimony both of the skills of its builders and the determination of the local inhabitants, who witnessed the construction of their place of worship. It was Francisco Gourié Marrero and the parish priest, Francisco Cárdenes Herrera, who had the idea of building the new temple. The Board approved the project presented by Catalan architect Manuel Vega y March in 1908, and commissioned architect Fernando Navarro to supervise the construction process. The church is now on the same site as the original parish, built on April 18, 1515 by Don Fernando Vázquez de Arce, the Bishop of the Canary Islands. The old temple deteriorated badly, and was too small to house the current population of Arucas, and it was demolished in 1909 so that the new church could be built. Building started on March 19, 1909 and it was consecrated in 1917. Building continued, however, for nearly another sixty years. The style chosen by Vega y March was neo-Gothic. [Antigua Parroquia de Arucas] The church, with a centralised ground plan, has two different heights and is characterised by its four facades framed by two pointed towers. The principal facade looks out over the Plaza de San Juan. However, access is through the west face, and the interior of the building is laid out accordingly. The southern facade, which looks out over the Parque de la Paz, is based on a similar architectural design, whereas the eastern wall is of less artistic significance.

Timetable: Every day from 9:30 to 12:30 hours and from 16:30 to 19:00 hours.
Phone Nummber: +34 928 605 622

Cultural House


Founded in 1973 to house the Public Library, it is a traditional 17th century Canary Island house. On the façade, you can appreciate the stone surround of the main door and the panel divided in the centre by the town coat of arms. The main door is reminiscent of several houses in the Vegueta borough, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It was refurbished in 1973 by local artist Santiago Santana. Climb the steps to the inner courtyard, a typical part of traditional Canary Islands homes, with the different rooms around it. You can now contemplate the marvelous Dragon tree, which is around 150 years old, and its stone-floored corridor with wooden columns.

Timetable: Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 14:00 hours
Phone Nummber: +34 928 621 664

Arucas Tourist Office


The Tourism Office of Arucas (depending from the Tourism Councillorship) is the responsible for providing support services and tourist information. These services are provided in the building situated on the street León y Castillo, nr. 10, located in the Historic Center of Arucas, and are managed by the staff of the Tourism Office. The main purpose of the Tourism Office of Arucas focuses on facilitating regularly a comprehensive tourist information of the municipality of Arucas and the island of Gran Canaria to the citizens and visitors. This is related to the tourist resources, transportation, accommodation, services, monuments, shows and other activities associated with tourism and leisure.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 16:00 hours.

Constitution Square


Continue to Plaza de la Constitución, which houses two important municipal buildings, the Town Council (1875) and the former Municipal Market (1882), both designed in an eclectic style. It is worth mentioning the mortar impact close to the Town Council´s front door during the Spanish Civil War.

The Marchioness´Garden


This interesting complex is around 500 yards far from the town centre, on the road from Arucas to Bañaderos. It houses a small palace built in 1880 by the first Marquis of Arucas, Don Ramón Madam y Uriondo. This garden, a local and international botanical jewel, owes its name to its creator´s enthusiasm, the Marquis, for bringing different species back from his frequent journeys. It is currently one of the most complete collections of tropical and sub-tropical flora which, thanks to the microclimate in the historical town of Arucas, is an ideal habitat for the development of the over 2,500 species on show.

Timetable: Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 16:00 hours
Phone Nummber: 928 604 486

Municipal Museum


Now approach the iron gate leading to the Municipal Park and Municipal Museum. Municipal Museum of Arucas is situated in the former house of el Mayorazgo (estate involving the right of primogeniture). The Council acquired the building and its rear garden around 1976. In the same year, some parts of the house were opened to the public and transformed into exhibition halls with permanent exhibits of the work of Santiago Santana, Manolo Ramos, Guillermo Sureda and Abraham Cárdenes.

Museum Timetable: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 14:00 hours
Phone Nummber: +34 928 628 165

Municipal park


The Municipal Park occupies a surface area of around 2.5 acres with several paved and tree-lined areas. It contains an enormous variety of trees and plants of great ornamental interest. Not in vain Arucas is also known as the “Town of the flowers”.

Arucas and Firgas water inheritance


From the avenue at the top of the Park, you can see several large 20th century buildings. If you stand by the water distribution box at the end of the Park, you can contemplate the majestic building housing La Heredad de Aguas de Arucas y Firgas (Arucas and Firgas Water Rights Association), which dates from 1912 houses the right to use water for irrigation.

The Stone Quarry Museum


It is one of several local quarries with origins dating from the 16th century. The present owners´ family bought the quarry towards the end of the 50´s, continuing a family tradition that can be dated back to more than 250 years. After many years exploiting the magnificent quarry of trachyphonolitic stone, the famous blue stone of Arucas, it was adapted to work with new technologies in 1999. Nowadays, inside the stone quarry, there is a faithful recreation of the characteristic elements of a stone quarry. The way in which stone was handled then contrasts with the new advanced techniques contrast with the new advanced techniques currently employed in this quarry.

Timetable: Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 16:00 hours
Phone Nummber: +34 928 623 510

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