This cathedral is the main cathedral of the city of Las Palmas, but also of the whole island of Gran Canaria. It is situated in in the heart of the historical part of town, also called Vegueta.
The construction of the cathedral began in 1500, during the term of bishop Diego de Muros, but the construction was halted in 1557 due to financial difficulties. Only in 1781 was the construction resumed, and is still going on to this day. It is because of this pause in construction that the cathedral is built in two architectural styles: the interior is characteristic for its late Gothic period art, but the exterior is being built in a more Neoclassical mood, and some elements of the cathedral are made in the style of the Baroque period. Some parts of the cathedral, its arches and arcades, were made out of blue stone from the San Lorenzo quarry, and volcanic rock was also incorporated into the cathedral’s walls. The cathedral has about 13 chapels in total.
The Santa Ana Cathedral of Las Palmas used to be the only cathedral in the Canary Islands until 1819, when the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Cristobál de la Laguna was established, with its seat on the island of Tenerife.
In the year 1894, pope Leo XIII gave the cathedral the title of a small basilica, and the year 1874 saw the cathedral become a historical landmark. The basilica is currently the largest religious building in the archipelago. Under its roof, the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art was opened, which exhibits numerous sacred objects, valuable artwork, including works from Dutch painters and a collection of works by Spanish sculptors.
The cathedral can be entered free of charge.
Open hours of the Cathedral of Santa Ana:
The cathedral is open Monday thru Friday between 10am and 4:30 pm
On Saturdays, you can only enter the cathedral by entering through the Diocesan Museum between 10am and 1:30pm
The entrance fee for the museum: €2.40
Entrance for children is free of charge.
