Valleseco, Las Palmas
Encyclopedia
Valleseco is a municipality of Las Palmas
province, on the Canary Islands
. It is in the northcentral part of Gran Canaria. Valleseco means "dry valley" in Spanish
, but its name is misleading, since it is actually one of the wettest municipalities of the island.
Valleseco's area is 22.11 km² with a population of about 4,045 (ISTAC, 2003) and its density is 182.95/km². The elevation is 1,000 m.
Valleseco is a municipality situated at 7 km. from Teror and 28 from the city of Las Palmas. Its landscape is characterized by deep valleys and ravines and a great vegetal richness that has resulted in more than 80% of the territory being protected by Nature Reserves.
Valleseco, at 1000 m. above sea level, often seems to be enveloped in a "sea of clouds". This helps to make the landscape very lush. Here, the trade winds deposit its precipitations, which, according to a local saying, "seem not to wet but soak", a type of wealth in the form of rain so appreciated by the country person, who thus sees his effort rewarded with productive crops of potatoes, corn and fruits.
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We can start our visit in the heart of the municipality, where the best known building in Valleseco can be found: the Saint Vicente Ferrer's Temple. Of simple construction, it is the oldest building in Valleseco (1898), highlighting the pulpit and the coffering in its interior, built in mudejar style. There are also some images of great historical and artistic value that come from the old chapel that preceded this church, and a reliquary, containing part of a bone of the saint's arm, is venerated. The greatest reliquary, however, is a German organ from the 18TH century which came from the Church of the Pino in Teror and which has been recently restored, giving it back all its beauty and the capacity to captivate us with its tune.
In the Cornmeal Mill, built more than 80 years ago, we can observe the griding process of yesteryear. Two revolving stones grind the grain of maize and produce the toasted cornmeal, known as "gofio".
The Tourist Information Office is also located in the heart of the village. In it, there is a permanent craftwork exhibition with different works, such as fabrics, musical instruments, wooden furniture, traditional Canarian costumes and openwork... made by artisans of the region.
The Barranco de la Virgen
The Barranco de la Virgen is one of the two principal ravines that cross the municipality of Valleseco. Flanked by high mountains, it is still possible to listen the sound of silence in that place. From the heart of the town, we arrive there by taking the road GC-305, that first leads us to the neighbourhood of Valsendero and then, following the ravine, continues all the way until the nearby village, Firgas. The last strech is a dirt track.
As part of the Parque Rural de Doramas (Doramas Rural Park), the Barranco de la Virgen gives shelter to a relic forest of laurisilva, that used to cover the whole interior of the island in the past. One of its tributaries, the Barranco Oscuro, is especially notorious and, as it has received the category of Total Nature Reserve, it has the highest possible protection within the Canarian Nature Reserve Network. It runs between high cliffs that have preserved the endemic flora, which in many cases, can only be found in this area.
Due to its abundance of water and its fertile lands, a flourishing agriculture was soon developed in the region and several stately buildings and estates of traditional architecture were built. These can still be seen along the ravine nowadays as well as the traces of ancient mills that bear witness to the past of the region linked to water.
La Laguna
Barely 2'5 km. away from the town center, we can find La Laguna de Valleseco with access from the crossroads between the roads to Teror GC-21 and Firgas GC-30.
The recreational area of La Laguna, situated in the Parque Rural de Doramas, is a territory characterized by the great beauty of its landscape, formed by a volcanic crater whose interior is covered with the distinctive vegetation of the laurisilva. The different trees that constitute this forest, the only one in the world, can be observed by walking by La Laguna. In fact, it is a small lagoon which all types of fowls approach to drink, from the little birds such as canaries and alpispas, to migratory birds such as herons.
As a recreational area, it is equipped for barbecues with grills, taps and tables to sit down to eat under the chestnut trees.
The summit
Following the GC-21 towards the high part of the municipality, we enter the Nature Reserve of the Protected Landscape of the Peaks, which preserves a landscape of great beauty and, at the same time, a territory of important vegetation for the collecting of water on the island. Many species of plants of botanical interest are located in this area, highlighting the Canarian pine among others.
Above Lanzarote's washing area we can observe the Cortijo de Calderetas. We gain access from the road walking across a short track and find an enormous volcanic crater surrounded by chestnut, elm and pine trees and inside it a traditional Canarian house from the end of the 19th century which has an apex roo. Its historical origins date back to the time of the conquest of the island, just as the other estates we find when continuing our route: Cueva Corcho, Crespo, Almaderos, Mesas de Galaz. The scenery is a delight to behold; it has large expanses of pine forest and chesnuts that have been reforested where, previously, there was nothing more than wasteland or pastureland. In the distance, if the sea of clouds allows, we can see splendis views of the city of Las Palmas.
The Montañón Negro (Big Black Mountain) rises in the limit of the municipality. The rugged and dry landscape reveals its recent volcanic origin. Due to its remarkable geological characteristics it has been declared a natural monument, now belonging to the Canarian Nature Reserve Network.
Gastronomy
In Valleseco we can savor its varied and tasty gastronomy, mainly based on meat: pork, goat, beef or rabbit, marinaded, stewed or with sauce. The specialities are: the "mojo the cochino" (pork with typical Canarian sauce), kid goat in sauce, marinaded pork and rabbit, beef stew, roasted pork leg. Other well-known dishes are: vegetable stew with jaramagos, picked in the country, where they grow wild; watercress stew, made with this vegetable that grows in places designed for it; coriander soup, served with kneaded toasted cornmeal and goat cheese.
Trekking
Another way of getting to know Valleseco is following its old paths, which take us to spectacular spots. Find more information in the Valleseco tourist web site.
Festivals
It is worth it to come and visit the town all year but is specially advisable during its festivals. The main ones in Valleseco are to honor Saint Vicente Ferrer, in mid May or at the beginning of June, depending on Easter. Another major celebration takes place the first Sunday of October in honor of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación. It is also the Apple Festival, in which people of the town arrive dressed with traditional costumes the day previous to the main celebration day.
Las Palmas (province)
The Province of Las Palmas is a province of Spain, consisting of the eastern part of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands.-Composition:...
province, on the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
. It is in the northcentral part of Gran Canaria. Valleseco means "dry valley" in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, but its name is misleading, since it is actually one of the wettest municipalities of the island.
Valleseco's area is 22.11 km² with a population of about 4,045 (ISTAC, 2003) and its density is 182.95/km². The elevation is 1,000 m.
Valleseco is a municipality situated at 7 km. from Teror and 28 from the city of Las Palmas. Its landscape is characterized by deep valleys and ravines and a great vegetal richness that has resulted in more than 80% of the territory being protected by Nature Reserves.
Valleseco, at 1000 m. above sea level, often seems to be enveloped in a "sea of clouds". This helps to make the landscape very lush. Here, the trade winds deposit its precipitations, which, according to a local saying, "seem not to wet but soak", a type of wealth in the form of rain so appreciated by the country person, who thus sees his effort rewarded with productive crops of potatoes, corn and fruits.
Geography and Information
- Location:
- Latitude: 28.05 (28°3') N
- Longitude: 15.5667 (15°34') W
- Altitude:
- Lowest: northern part
- Centre: 1,000 m
- Highest: southern part
- Name of inhabitants: -
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Places of interest
The heart of the municipalityWe can start our visit in the heart of the municipality, where the best known building in Valleseco can be found: the Saint Vicente Ferrer's Temple. Of simple construction, it is the oldest building in Valleseco (1898), highlighting the pulpit and the coffering in its interior, built in mudejar style. There are also some images of great historical and artistic value that come from the old chapel that preceded this church, and a reliquary, containing part of a bone of the saint's arm, is venerated. The greatest reliquary, however, is a German organ from the 18TH century which came from the Church of the Pino in Teror and which has been recently restored, giving it back all its beauty and the capacity to captivate us with its tune.
In the Cornmeal Mill, built more than 80 years ago, we can observe the griding process of yesteryear. Two revolving stones grind the grain of maize and produce the toasted cornmeal, known as "gofio".
The Tourist Information Office is also located in the heart of the village. In it, there is a permanent craftwork exhibition with different works, such as fabrics, musical instruments, wooden furniture, traditional Canarian costumes and openwork... made by artisans of the region.
The Barranco de la Virgen
The Barranco de la Virgen is one of the two principal ravines that cross the municipality of Valleseco. Flanked by high mountains, it is still possible to listen the sound of silence in that place. From the heart of the town, we arrive there by taking the road GC-305, that first leads us to the neighbourhood of Valsendero and then, following the ravine, continues all the way until the nearby village, Firgas. The last strech is a dirt track.
As part of the Parque Rural de Doramas (Doramas Rural Park), the Barranco de la Virgen gives shelter to a relic forest of laurisilva, that used to cover the whole interior of the island in the past. One of its tributaries, the Barranco Oscuro, is especially notorious and, as it has received the category of Total Nature Reserve, it has the highest possible protection within the Canarian Nature Reserve Network. It runs between high cliffs that have preserved the endemic flora, which in many cases, can only be found in this area.
Due to its abundance of water and its fertile lands, a flourishing agriculture was soon developed in the region and several stately buildings and estates of traditional architecture were built. These can still be seen along the ravine nowadays as well as the traces of ancient mills that bear witness to the past of the region linked to water.
La Laguna
Barely 2'5 km. away from the town center, we can find La Laguna de Valleseco with access from the crossroads between the roads to Teror GC-21 and Firgas GC-30.
The recreational area of La Laguna, situated in the Parque Rural de Doramas, is a territory characterized by the great beauty of its landscape, formed by a volcanic crater whose interior is covered with the distinctive vegetation of the laurisilva. The different trees that constitute this forest, the only one in the world, can be observed by walking by La Laguna. In fact, it is a small lagoon which all types of fowls approach to drink, from the little birds such as canaries and alpispas, to migratory birds such as herons.
As a recreational area, it is equipped for barbecues with grills, taps and tables to sit down to eat under the chestnut trees.
The summit
Following the GC-21 towards the high part of the municipality, we enter the Nature Reserve of the Protected Landscape of the Peaks, which preserves a landscape of great beauty and, at the same time, a territory of important vegetation for the collecting of water on the island. Many species of plants of botanical interest are located in this area, highlighting the Canarian pine among others.
Above Lanzarote's washing area we can observe the Cortijo de Calderetas. We gain access from the road walking across a short track and find an enormous volcanic crater surrounded by chestnut, elm and pine trees and inside it a traditional Canarian house from the end of the 19th century which has an apex roo. Its historical origins date back to the time of the conquest of the island, just as the other estates we find when continuing our route: Cueva Corcho, Crespo, Almaderos, Mesas de Galaz. The scenery is a delight to behold; it has large expanses of pine forest and chesnuts that have been reforested where, previously, there was nothing more than wasteland or pastureland. In the distance, if the sea of clouds allows, we can see splendis views of the city of Las Palmas.
The Montañón Negro (Big Black Mountain) rises in the limit of the municipality. The rugged and dry landscape reveals its recent volcanic origin. Due to its remarkable geological characteristics it has been declared a natural monument, now belonging to the Canarian Nature Reserve Network.
Gastronomy
In Valleseco we can savor its varied and tasty gastronomy, mainly based on meat: pork, goat, beef or rabbit, marinaded, stewed or with sauce. The specialities are: the "mojo the cochino" (pork with typical Canarian sauce), kid goat in sauce, marinaded pork and rabbit, beef stew, roasted pork leg. Other well-known dishes are: vegetable stew with jaramagos, picked in the country, where they grow wild; watercress stew, made with this vegetable that grows in places designed for it; coriander soup, served with kneaded toasted cornmeal and goat cheese.
Trekking
Another way of getting to know Valleseco is following its old paths, which take us to spectacular spots. Find more information in the Valleseco tourist web site.
Festivals
It is worth it to come and visit the town all year but is specially advisable during its festivals. The main ones in Valleseco are to honor Saint Vicente Ferrer, in mid May or at the beginning of June, depending on Easter. Another major celebration takes place the first Sunday of October in honor of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación. It is also the Apple Festival, in which people of the town arrive dressed with traditional costumes the day previous to the main celebration day.
External links
- Valleseco Tourist Web Site
- Valleseco page of Gran Canaria site
- Map and aerial photos
- Street map: Street map from Mapquest, MapPoint, Google or Yahoo! Maps
- Satellite images: Google or Microsoft Virtual Earth - image now available
- Coordinates: 28°4′0"N 15°33′0"W
| North: Firgas Firgas, Las Palmas Firgas is a Canary Islands municipality in the province of Las Palmas. Is a suburb of Las Palmas city. It is situated in the north of Gran Canaria. It has an area of 15.77 km², 7,023 inhabitants and the density of 455.34/km². It celebrated its 500th anniversary in 1988... |
Northeast: Arucas Arucas, Las Palmas Arucas is a Canary Islands municipality in the province of Las Palmas. It is situated in the north of Gran Canaria. Arucas is a suburb of Las Palmas city.... |
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| West: Moya Moya, Las Palmas Moya is a municipality of Las Palmas province, on the Canary Islands. It is in the northern part of the Grand Canary island or Gran Canaria.Moya's area is 31.87 km² with a population of about 8,307 and its density is 250.63/km².... |
Valleseco | East: Teror Teror Teror is a Canarian municipality in the northern portion of the island of Gran Canaria in the Las Palmas province in the Canary Islands. Teror is a suburb of Las Palmas city... |
| South: Tejeda | Southeast: Valsequillo |