Valsequillo

Overview

Found in the east of Gran Canaria, the Valsequillo municipality is often seen as a quieter part of the island. Over recent years however, the area has made a special emphasis on publicising what it has to offer. The population has grown in this time and now approximately 9,500 people live here. Whilst it may not provide visitors with the most activities, the region has some of the best views of the entire island.

Geographically Valsequillo is very diverse. Situated on peaks and valleys, this municipality can have several climate changes in one day. The naturally created ravines have been carved out through thousands of years of rain, but just like the rest of the Canary Islands, great weather is found all year round.

The traditional tourist destination of Las Palmas is less than 30km away, and for many Valsequillo provides a welcome break to the popular coastal resorts. The quiet neighbourhoods, small streets, and beautiful landscapes make it a great place to unwind and feel closer to nature.

History

In pre-Hispanic times the town was a sacred place. The mountainous land was perfect for the religious natives to worship on, and the natural caves made a good shelter. After the Spanish invasion, the El Colmenar barracks were built, making Valsequillo a military-based town. Small chapels were built in surrounding areas, bringing more people to settle here. Eventually on March 12th 1802 the municipality split from that of Telde and Valsequillo was officially an independent region.

Throughout the next century the population doubled in size, and by 1950 over 6000 people lived here. Valsequillo would not be home to that many people for another 40 years as many started to move towards the coastal regions due to the tourism boom. From the 1990s onwards the population started to increase once again as the municipality turned its attention to modernising the agricultural sector, making way for produce such as honey and cheese to be distributed all across the island.

Culture

The people of Valsequillo typically live quieter lives than those in Las Palmas and other coastal resorts. Canarian culture is best found in the smaller, more tranquil towns, as the way of life for many has not been disturbed by tourism. Perhaps the best times to sample the pure heritage of the Canarian people is by visiting one of the many neighbourhood festivals that take place throughout the year. Locally made food and drink, traditional music, and carefully made handicrafts are found on market stalls across the region.

If the culture of today's inhabitants isn't enough for you, Valsequillo has a very historic feel to it. The natural and social changes that have occurred are evident by the architecture. Disused mills and 15th century army barracks act as a photograph of times gone by.

Economy

The economy of Valsequillo has always been based on agriculture, however the changing profitability of it has meant that the area has seen various levels of prosperity. When tourism became a more financially rewarding industry than agriculture, many people left the midland municipality for the coast. Nowadays farming is once again helping to bring money to the area. After going through a much needed phase of modernisation, farmers are not only growing produce for their own needs but they are able to sell their goods elsewhere too.

The services industry is also an integral part of the economy. Construction and transport companies help bring business into the region, being based in Valsequillo due to its central location. The tourism sector isn't as important as it is in other municipalities. Although, a recent campaign to advertise the unique sights has helped to raise visitor numbers.

How to get there:

Visiting Valsequillo by bus can be difficult as very few pass it. The Global bus service run the route 43 from Telde every few hours, with the journey taking less than 45 minutes. However, other than this all other routes are from within the municipality.

Connecting to the GC-41 will take you to Valsequillo by car from all directions.

Sights 

San Miguel Ravine

The San Miguel Ravine provides some fantastic views of the region. With wild flowers, canyons, and even caves, it is a rightfully protected space with historical value as well. Layers of rock have been eroded away by thousands of years worth of water trickling down into the Tenteniguada crater below. Footpaths cover much of the ravine and a walk through them brings you to various buildings that time forgot, such as the various abandoned mills. For a relaxing walk through nature, and time, the San Miguel Ravine is perfect.

Caves

Much like Tejeda, pre-Hispanic caves can be found in the mountains. The San Miguel Ravine has a large number of the former Guanche people's homes. El Roque is the best location for spectacular views of untouched caves, and it can be found in between the San Miguel and Los Mocanes Ravines.

El Colmenar Barracks 

Built almost 500 years ago the barracks were strategically imported for the military up until the 19th century. Found along the San Miguel Ravine, the barracks played a significant role in numerous wars, and as a result they have been designated as a Cultural Protected Property by the Canarian Government. Around the historic building: the accommodation rooms, the supplies room, the parading grounds, and even the horses stables are still standing and well preserved.

San Miguel Church

Situated in the heart of Valsequillo at Plaza San Miguel, the locals built the church over a period of more than twenty years. With frequent breaks in construction and no blueprint, the church looked to be in a constant state of ruin until in 1921 when the money and the manpower was acquired to complete it. In 1923 it was officially opened with the installation of its first religious artefact, the 17th century sculpture of 'San Miquel El Chico'. Today it is the centrepiece of the town square, serving as both a place of worship for the residents and a point of interest for visitors.

 

Beaches

Valsequillo does not have any beaches as it is a landlocked municipality.

 

 

Nightlife

As Valesquillo lacks any major strips of shops and restaurants, one can’t expect that the nightlife would be anything like that of Las Palmas. The relaxed atmosphere means that couples can enjoy a quiet drink outside or a family can make the most of their time together, without the bright lights and the thumping music of the more populated regions.

 

Festivals

The largest festival in Valsequillo is the fiesta de San Miguel Arcángel which takes place on September 29th every year. Fireworks and street parties go on throughout the night, with many markets selling their local produce too.

El Amendrero – First two weeks of February
Luis Verde (El Caballo) – April 30th and May 1st
Las Vegas -  First two weeks of May
Trecén -  First two weeks of May
Valle de San Roque (Virgen de Fátima) – Third weekend of May
Lomitos de Correa – End of May
Tenteniguada (San Juan Bautista) - June
El Rincón – First two weeks of July
Era de Mota – Second two weeks of July
Valle de San Roque – End of August
La Barrera – End of August / Start of September
Valsequillo Casco (San  Miguel Arcángel) – September 29th
La Cantera – First two weeks of October

 

Shopping

While there isn't a large selection of supermarkets or specialist stores, Valsequillo does make a lot of its own high quality goods to sell to tourists on the Sunday flee markets. Locally made cheese is readily available and can be bought across the island. Also, with a wide array of flowers, bees thrive in Valsequillo and rich honey is a result of that. The area is also home to some award winning wines that have been made for hundreds of years. All of these fresh produce, not to mention the traditionally made handicrafts, more than make up for the lack of large convenience stores.