Plaza de la Feria

Plaza de la Feria sits in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the area bridging the old districts of Triana and Vegueta, close to the city's historic harbor front. It's a small, shaded urban square today, but its name and setting trace back to the island's 19th-century past.

Why is it called Plaza de la Feria?

The name translates roughly as "fair square," and that's exactly what the ground was used for. During the second half of the 19th century, cattle fairs and civic festivities were regularly held on this open lot, a pattern common across Spanish towns where undeveloped land at the edge of the built-up center doubled as market ground. A city map from 1883 still shows the plot as undeveloped land. The name had already taken hold earlier, though: in 1862, on April 28-30, the site hosted the Provincial Exhibition of Art, Agriculture and Industry, organized during the term of mayor Antonio López Botas.

What's the square's official name?

Locals almost always call it Plaza de la Feria, but its formal name is León y Castillo. The renaming became necessary to give a proper home to a monument honoring the writer Benito Pérez Galdós, created by sculptor Victorio Macho. The statue had originally been installed in the late 1920s on Las Palmas' old pier, but sea spray steadily corroded its limestone surface, forcing a move to a more sheltered spot.

What does the square look like today?

The renovated plaza officially opened on January 4, 1970. Since then, the Galdós monument has anchored this compact but meaningful public space, wedged between the Naval Command headquarters and the Government Delegation for the Canary Islands. That institutional neighborhood underscores the area's administrative weight within the city. The square sits near the former harbor's coastline, making it an easy stop while walking through the historic center of Las Palmas.

Who should visit?

Plaza de la Feria appeals most to visitors interested in local history and urban architecture rather than travelers chasing a headline attraction. It functions as a neighborhood meeting point, a natural pause on a longer walk between Vegueta and Triana, and a chance to stand before a monument to one of Spain's most significant 19th- and 20th-century writers. It's worth folding into a visit to the nearby old-town landmarks rather than treating it as a standalone destination.

Frequently asked questions

What is Plaza de la Feria? It's a historic square in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, officially named León y Castillo, though locals still use the older name that references the fairs once held there.

Where does the name come from? It comes from cattle fairs and civic celebrations held on the site during the second half of the 19th century, a usage cemented by the 1862 Provincial Exhibition.

What's the main feature of the square? Its centerpiece is the monument to writer Benito Pérez Galdós, sculpted by Victorio Macho, moved here after sea spray damaged its original location on the old harbor pier.

When was the current square inaugurated? The renovated plaza opened on January 4, 1970, largely in the form still visible today.