Ayuntamiento de San Bartolomé de Tirajana

Ayuntamiento de San Bartolomé de Tirajana is the town hall of Gran Canaria's largest municipality by land area, located in Tunte — the historic, inland capital of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. From this quiet mountain town, the local government administers a coastline that includes Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés, even though the town hall itself sits far from the beach crowds.

Where is the town hall and how do you get there?

Tunte lies in the mountainous interior of the municipality, surrounded by ravines and terraced fields — a sharp contrast to the dune-backed coastline further south. Driving from Playa del Inglés or Maspalomas typically takes around half an hour along a scenic inland road that passes viewpoints over the Fataga valley. Many visitors treat the trip as a day escape from the beach, swapping resort life for a cooler, more rural side of Gran Canaria.

What is worth seeing around the town hall building?

The square in front of the town hall is the heart of Tunte, where the modern administrative building sits alongside traditional Canarian architecture and traces of pre-Hispanic settlement found throughout this part of the municipality. Close by stands the parish church dedicated to San Bartolomé Apóstol, notable for its simple neoclassical façade and timber roof — one of the more significant religious buildings in the municipality. It's worth wandering the narrow streets around the square, where small bars and shops sell mountain produce quite different from what's on offer along the coast.

How large and important is the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana?

San Bartolomé de Tirajana is the largest municipality on Gran Canaria and one of the leading tourist destinations in the entire Canary Islands. It contains the Maspalomas Dunes, a roughly 4-square-kilometre dune field bordering a 5.6-kilometre stretch of beach shared by Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés, as well as the Maspalomas Lighthouse, designed by Juan León y Castillo and standing around 60 metres tall. The municipality's coastline runs for 32 kilometres, and Playa del Inglés ranks among the largest resort areas in Europe, with hundreds of hotels, spa and wellness centres, two golf courses, a large convention centre, and theme parks operating year-round.

When is the best time to visit?

The municipality enjoys a mild climate throughout the year, with coastal temperatures generally ranging between 18 and 25°C, meaning the tourist season barely pauses. Tunte, sitting higher up, tends to be noticeably cooler, especially in the evenings — a welcome change of pace for visitors coming up from the beach resorts.

Frequently asked questions

Can tourists visit the town hall in Tunte? The administrative building itself isn't a sightseeing attraction, but the square in front of it and the historic streets of Tunte are a popular stop on inland day trips.

How far is Tunte from Maspalomas? It's roughly a 25-30 minute drive on a scenic inland road, passing near the Fataga valley along the way.

How does Tunte differ from Playa del Inglés? Tunte is a quiet mountain and farming town with a local, low-key character, while Playa del Inglés is a densely built coastal resort with large-scale hotel infrastructure.

What else is worth seeing in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana? Beyond Tunte and its town hall, the Maspalomas Dunes, the Maspalomas Lighthouse, and the Playa del Inglés coastline together make up one of the most important tourist areas on Gran Canaria.