Canary Islands Research

Researching the Canary Islands

Context

The Canary Islands has a colourful history dating back over 1,000 years. It has experienced prosperity, extreme poverty, piracy, mass emigration, and is now one of Spain’s main tourist destinations. The early 20th century saw the archipelago split due to rivalries between the merchants of Santa Cruz and Las Palmas, leading to the duel capital cities the Canary Islands have today. After the fall of Franco and the establishment of the democratic constitutional monarchy, the Canary Islands was granted an autonomous community of Spain status. 

Culture

The dialect spoken in the Canary Islands is similar to that heard in the south of Spain, as this was the language spoken by the initial settlers of the islands. However, it is also influenced by Caribbean and South American Spanish, due to the emigration of Canarians to the Americas over the centuries. The Canarian diet is dominated by the sea and its age-old produce wine. Typical dishes generally include roasted fish, potatoes, and garlic, while chicken and beef stews are also tremendously popular. Specialties include gofio, a sweet corn based flour is added to numerous dishes and used to make the dough-like side dish paella. Many of the local dishes have had a big influence on dinner tables in South America, again, due to the mass emigration. One particular artist springs to the mind of Spaniards when any discussion of Canarian art takes place - Cesar Manrique. Yet artist may not be the correct term used to describe this demigod of Canarian culture who is known as a sculptor, architect, environmentalist, and urban designer, among other things. He alone saved many areas of the islands from the crass overdevelopment witnessed in other Spanish tourist destinations during the 1970’s and ‘80s, restoring the charming colonial architecture of the cities and towns. His legacy can be seen throughout the archipelago, from the Jameos lava tube to the Jardin de Cactus.

Manrique's Jardin de Cactus in Lanzarote

Canarian History

The Islands were a well-known part of the ancient world, and consolidated their fame when they became a necessary port of call for Christopher Columbus in his voyages of discovery to the Americas. This way, the Canary Islands became a bridge between Europe and America. The strategic situation made an important contribution to the history and culture of the Islands, exposing them to many different influences, especially European influences and later American and African ones. This confluence of different cultures has made the Canary Islands into a genuine place, with an identity of its own. The mixture of different cultures has forged a unique and peculiar history for the Canary Islands.