Christopher Columbus and The Canary Islands

 

Who was Christopher Columbus?

Christopher Columbus [Cristobal Colon in Spanish], explorer and navigator, was born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy and by the age of 25 made his first voyage into the Atlantic when his fleet was attacked by the French, his vessel set alight, and he had to swim to the nearby Portuguese shore to save his life.

Here he settled, married and had a son. But following the death of his wife, he moved to Spain and took part in several other expeditions to Africa and learned about the currents around the Canary Islands.

Paradores in The Canary Islands

For a complete change, why not consider staying at a one of the Canary Islands' Paradores for a chance to experience another side of Spain other than sun, sand and sangria.

With more than 90 hotels across Spain and the Canary Islands, many of the Paradores [sometimes seen as Paradors] are restored castles, palaces and country houses, or even converted monasteries and convents. Others are more modern and can be found in remote areas of coastline or in national parks.   The Paradores are government owned and due to the current economic crisis being experienced by Spain, this may mean that some or all of the hotels might be sold.

Paradors in the Canary Islands

Did you know that 5 of the Canary Islands are home to a Parador?  Paradors are famous throughout Spain and other countries for their distinctive brand of luxury accommodation and are often converted castles, palaces, fortresses, convents, monasteries and other historic buildings.  Some Paradors are modern, although they are built in traditional styles. Corona Holidays can offer you accommodation in each Parador in Tenerife, La Gomera, El Hierro, La Palma and Gran Canaria.

We will start with the Parador de Canades del Teide in Tenerife.  Located inside the crater of a volcano with views of the summit of nearby Mount Teide, this Parador is located 7,200 ft above sea level and is the only building in the Teide National Park.  Take advantage of its location and beat the queues to the funicular that ferries passengers to the top of Mount Teide.  The Parador also has its own telescope, and holds regular nights for guests to star-gaze.

The Parador de La Gomera can't be matched for its elegance and luxury.  Converted from an old manor house with an interior courtyard and fountain, the wood-panelled walls are hung with colonial paintings.  The interior is packed with maritime references and has navigational instrumentation from the Columbus era [La Gomera was Columbus' last port of call before heading for the New World].  The bedrooms, swimming pool and garden all have fantastic views towards Mount Teide.

El Hierro has a Parador [the Parador de El Hierro] which is next to the sea and is backed by spectacular cliffs and the Roque de la Bonanza.  Many of the rooms have elegant balconies with sea views and the interior has been designed to represent the early history of the island.  In the gardens, you will find dragon trees, coconut palms and a swimming pool.

The Parador de La Palma is a more modern hotel, but designed in accordance with the traditional Canary Islands architectural principles   It is located on a hillside overlooking the sea and has tropical gardens with native plants, fruit trees and walkways.  There are wonderful views of the Atlantic and towards Mount Teide on nearby Tenerife.  Request a room in the east wing to benefit from the sunrise. 

Lastly, there is the Parador Cruz de Tejeda in Gran Canaria.  This is a traditional Canarian building situated in the mountains in central Gran Canaria.  The name comes from the huge stone cross which stands at the entrance to the Parador.  The Parador is famous for its views over the island and benefits from a terrace perfectly placed to watch the sun go down over the Roque Nublo.

So, if you would like to spend part of your Canary Island holiday at one of the Paradors, just give us a call on 0800 5 677688 or send an enquiry and Corona Holidays will be able to help.

El Hierro - Plans to extend operating hours

Plans to extend the opening hours of El Hierro airport in the Canary Islands were refunsed by the Spanish government which, in turn, is reported to be damaging he island's gowth.

El Hierro's local government is unhappy that Madrid has turned down the plans to extending the airport's operating hours which would have enabled flights to land later in the evening.  They were original advised that the request needed to come from an airline, which was quickly done, but were then told that the frequency of the flights was insufficient.  However, the airline would only schedule more flights if the airport was open. 

Further representations are being made to the Spanish Airports Authority to treat El Hierro like other small airports on the mainland.

If you are interested in a flight or holiday to El Hierro, just give us a call or send us an email.