Parque Finca El Galeón (Santa Brígida)

Parks and Nature

This is a leisure and recreation area for all Gran Canaria residents and visitors who enjoy the diverse elements of rural life, along paths that wind through vegetable and fruit orchards, vineyards, and farm animals. This attractive farm is open every day. On weekends, taking advantage of the opening of the Farmers' and Crafts Market in the municipal park right next to the farm, many people spend the day in an ideal setting for families and lovers of the countryside. From the entrance itself, you'll see a scene of vegetable gardens, cobblestone paths, irrigation ditches, and gardens, leading you to an almost unexpected interior, with farm animal pens and shaded areas to relax and read the newspaper or a good book. More Information: El Galeón Recreation Area The El Galeón farm is located in the upper part of the Guiniguada ravine, in the municipality of Santa Brígida. It is characterized by the presence of dry-stone terraces, fountains, corner stones, irrigation channels, sheds, pigpens, etc., all interconnected by paths and cobbled roads. The Galleon in the History of Gran Canaria This place has played an important role in the history of the first centuries after the conquest. According to chronicles, the manor house located on this estate, then owned by Mayor Andrés de la Nuez, became the residence of the island's governor, Alonso Alvarado, serving as his headquarters from which he gave orders to the Castilian troops to repel and defeat the Dutch corsair Pieter Van der Does, who attacked the island in 1599 and captured the walled city of Las Palmas. Governor Alonso Alvarado died defending the Royal Camp of Las Palmas, and Antonio Pamochamoso then assumed command of the Castilian troops, leading the final battle that ended with the defeat and retreat of the Dutch forces. When the ransom demanded for the recapture of the Royal Camp of Las Palmas was not paid, the Dutch set it ablaze, destroyed many defensive structures, and looted a large part of its archives. A vast garden teeming with life The Galeón estate is situated in a thermophilic forest with abundant palm trees, as well as wild olive trees, guaydiles (a type of shrub), mastic trees, mastic trees, and plantations of ornamental trees and shrubs. Nearby is one of Gran Canaria's most emblematic palm groves, the historic Satautejo Palm Grove, at the head of the Guiniguada ravine. Among the most representative fauna of this area, it's worth noting that it's a well-known territory for little owls (Asio otus), avid nocturnal hunters that are great allies of agriculture due to their constant consumption of rodents. Every night, with a little patience, they can be seen silently flying in search of food. During breeding season, on June and July nights, one of the noisiest natural phenomena in the Canary Islands occurs: the chicks incessantly call out for food, emitting a high-pitched and repetitive sound characteristic of our rural world.