Parque de Santa Catalina

Santa Catalina is the reference square and park of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and it works as the hinge between two sides of the city: the port of La Luz and the bay of Las Canteras. The ground is open and flat, with trees, planted beds and a row of terraces that keep it busy from early on. Its size and position make it a meeting point and a thoroughfare rather than a garden for quiet contemplation. The Museo Elder, devoted to science and technology, stands inside the park.

During carnival the park changes scale and becomes the centre of the celebration, holding the main stage and the largest crowds in the city. Outside those weeks it keeps an everyday neighbourhood use, a mix of residents, port crews and newly arrived visitors. It is a few minutes on foot from Las Canteras and is well served by city bus lines, so there is no need to arrive by car. Anyone after context can pair the visit with the port promenade and the beach front, which sit on either side.