Apart from an exceptional natural environment, the Canary Islands possess an extensive and interesting historic-artistic heritage and a broad range of activities that are a challenging alternative to the traditional tourism of sun and sand.

Its privileged location has made the Islands a land with an eclectic culture - an amalgam of its pre-historic past and the rich artistic and intellectual achievements of today, that has come together over the last five centuries.

Europe meets Africa in the Canaries, and América and the Atlantic too, with their different ways of living and understanding art.

Culture in the Canary Islands has clear mainland influences, but has also found inspiration in the fountainhead of South America, which has so many ties to the Islands and, which is firmly rooted in its indigenous past.

This melting pot has engendered its own unmistakable personality, and offers an appealing range of activities for the millions of visitors to discover, to their delight. Each island, and almost each town, conserves a wealth and diversity of Canary culture, to give visitors an idea of a history that is far more than just sun and sand.

The history of the Canary Islands is quite different from that of the rest of Spain and Europe, due to the fact that they were not conquered until the 15th century. Nevertheless, the most avant-garde European schools of thought and creativity have always found an excellent reception here.

Because of their isolation from Ancient Times until the Conquest, the Canary Islands remained in almost prehistoric conditions until the end of the Middle Ages in Europe. But this changed when they became a compulsory port of call for ships on their way to the new world.

The active participation of Canary Islanders in founding nations and cities, (Montevideo, Buenos Aires and San Antonio, Texas for instance); and trade based on their agricultural wealth (Malmsey wines were the most famous and highly appreciated in the world) attracted a cosmopolitan mix of Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and English who brought their own customs and traditions, which influenced the present identity of the Islands.

The result is a rich and complex culture that has emerged from diverse influences of history, and moulded by geography

Before the Conquest, the desire to travel, discover new lands, and acquire riches characterised both the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions of Europe, and can be seen by the countless expeditions that landed in the Islands. Mallorca, Catalonia, Andalucía, the Basque Country, Portugal, all sent expeditions and almost all of them left their mark on the Islands.

Special thanks to The Consejería de Turismo y Transportes del Gobierno de Canarias