Monuments and museums

An eclectic region and crossroads of three continents, the Canaries have become a cultural centre with an extensive array of activities. The Islands have more than forty museums of all kinds, mainly in Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma and Lanzarote. The museums of the Canary Islands house a wide range of archaeological findings, as well as exhibitions of aboriginal and modern art and design.

The leading museums of Gran Canaria include the Museo Canario, with works by Nestor; the Museum of Science and Technology; the Perez Galdos Museum, and the Rum Museum, with its collection of historic instruments illustrating their uses, and newspaper archive.

The most important museums of Tenerife are the Museum of Holy Art, with photographs, sculptures, silver and gold work, 17th century chasubles and books; and the Ibero-American Craft Museum, which exhibits the crafts, both past and present, from Spain and America.

In Lanzarote, there are the César Manrique Foundation and the International Modern Art Museum. Other places of interest are: in Tenerife, the Science and Space Museum and the Circle of Fine Arts; and in Gran Canaria, the Atlantic Modern Art Museum (CAAM), the Leon y Castillo Museum and the Columbus Museum.

The most important museums of La Palma are the Naval Museum and the Island Museum, both in Santa Cruz de La Palma. Fuerteventura has the Museum of Ethnography in Betancuria and the Casa de la Cilla, with interesting displays of Canary Island arts and crafts.

The Canary Islands Classical Music Festival attracts the most prestigious orchestras from all over the world, such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Last year's Festival, held between February and April, was a resounding success. Next year's 16th Festival, which will run through to March, includes artists like Jorge Robaina, Gustavo Diaz Jerez and Ivan Martin. The Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra (OFGC) and the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra (OST), two of Europe's leading orchestras will participate in both events.

The last Opera Festival included performances by leading singers, such as Carlos Alvarez, Aida Lukandin, Carlo Guelfí and Jose Sempere. The next programme includes Trovador, Manon Lescaut and Romeo and Juliet, with artists like Agustín Prune, Giovanni Tarasconi, Imil Ivanov, Viktor Afanasenko, Aquiles Machado, Tatiana Davidova and Arantxa Armentia, who will maintain the Island´s high standards.

The Islands also organise one of the most prestigious Zarzuela (Light Opera) Festivals on the national circuit. Every November, the Association of the Canary Island Friends of Zarzuela put on three light operas. Renowned participants include Enrique Baquerizo, Guadalupe Sanchez, Carlos Duran and Juan Lomba.