Arucas, Las Palmas

Arucas is the fourth largest municipality on the Canary island of Gran Canaria. Arucas has 36 852 inhabitants ( 1 January 2013) on an area of ​​33.01 km ².

Etymology

The name probably derives from Arucas of the pre-Hispanic name Arehucas or Arehuc.

History

Even before the conquest of the Canary Islands by the Spaniards of Arucas was a center altkanarischen life. During the conquest battles, the town was largely destroyed in 1478. 1481 AD. was killed at the Battle of Arucas the Canarian King doramas in a challenge against the Spanish commander Pedro de Vera. Soon after, there was a new foundation of the settlement with predominantly Spanish settlers.

Decisive impetus for the development were first revenues from the production and marketing of the red dye of the Cochenilleschildlaus. Sugar cane cultivation was operated on a large scale until about 1920. With the rise of Caribbean sugar plantations was moved increasingly on the cultivation of bananas, this was until about 1970 the main local sources of revenue. Meanwhile, the banana-growing area has shrunk by more than half. Today, increasingly grows vegetables, fruits and flowers.

Geography

Arucas located west of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Neighboring municipalities are Firgas and Moya in the west and Teror in the southwest.

Attractions

• Church of San Juan Bautista: landmark and one of the main attractions of the city is built from dark basalt stone church of San Juan Bautista (John the Baptist ). It was built in 1909-1917 by the Catalan architect Manuel Vega y March, in Neo-Gothic style and is often erroneously referred to as the Cathedral, although it does not meet the necessary criteria " bishop's church ." The building material, the dark Aruca basalt (very slowly cooled lava ), is very resistant to weathering and is still used by some stonecutters of the city and broken into local quarries ( canterías ).
• Rum factory ( Destilería Arehucas ): Well known is the rum factory ( Destilería Arehucas ) on the road to Firgas. Visitors can relax in the adjoining Rum Museum (Museo de Ron ) on production and storage of information ( guides ). Some issued oak barrels bear the autographs of famous visitors such as, but the King of Spain, Placido Domingo, Julio Iglesias ', Anatoly Karpov, Willy Brandt and Walter Scheel. The factory also produces interesting rum concoctions like Bananenrum or " honey rum ". Sugar cane is grown but only in small quantities here, but comes from Spain or overseas.
• City Park ( Parque Municipal): the city park, with many Canarian endemic and exotic plants and trees, another attraction of the place.
• City Museum: the small town museum at the entrance into the park about the history of Arucas.
• Kegelberg " Arucas " from the nearby volcanic cone mountain " Arucas " restaurant has a great view to Las Palmas.

Population Development

Swell

• ISTAC ( Statistical Department of the Regional Government of the Canary Islands)