It is worth taking a stroll through the historic centre of Firgas in order to see the cultural and religious sites of the municipality. Recommended visits include the Parish Church of San Roque, built in 1502 on the ruins of what was the first chapel of San Juan Ortega, next to a Dominican convent which is no longer in existence.
Of the first chapel there remain the main door and the panelling of the central nave, where the crucifix is, as well as an important work of religious statuary.
The square Plaza de San Roque, where the church is, contains a monument to one of the most venerated saints of Firgas, San Juan de Ortega, the most important patron saint of the town. From this square you can see one of the most beautiful views of the North of Gran Canaria, and on a clear day the islands of Tenerife and Fuerteventura can be seen.
The Casa de la Cultura is probably the most emblematic building of the municipality. It was formerly a hotel and inn providing accommodation for visitors to the baths of Azuaje. The building later housed the Town Hall, and these days it houses the Public Library, Exhibition Room and Events Hall.
The building of the Firgas Town Hall is a large house in the neo-Canarian style, built in the 1940s. The building materials include the blue stone from the famous quarries of the lower area of the municipality and Canary Islands pine wood in the construction of its magnificent balconies.
Near the Plaza de San Roque is the Memorial Fountain, built with quarry stone, which commemorates the 500 years since the Founding of Firgas. It has several water displays and lights, and also provides background music.
The Paseo de Gran Canaria and the Paseo de Canarias are located right in the town centre in what was formerly known as the calle Real del Centro. These are pedestrian areas with a natural slope which has been used to build a beautiful 30 metre waterfall using quarry stone, finished off by an impressive monument of a fountain representing the traditional richness of the water resources. On one side of the Paseo there are the 21 heraldic shields of all the municipalities of Gran Canaria, including the shield of the island. The Paseo de Canarias also has representations of the 7 Canary Islands carved into the ground, with their respective heraldic shields and a landscape typical of each island.
It is possible to visit the Doramas Natural Park in Firgas, with its ravines of great beauty with lush vegetation and an abundance of small streams distributing water over the region.
El Barranco de Azuaje is another natural attraction, where you can still see the remains of a SPA resort which used the waters from a medicinal spring in the area. This ravine is the enclave of the Azuaje Special Natural Reserve, consisting of 61.1 hectares, where the habitats of the laurisilva and fayal-brezal are protected. There are also several pathways along which you can enjoy the natural surroundings.
There is a small shopping centre at the entrance to the town of Firgas, as well as the commercial area in Calle 18 de Julio streetwhere you can buy all sorts of products.
For visitors interested in purchasing traditional objects, Firgas is known for crafts made from wood. Traditional musical instruments can be bought, such as the timple, as well as small models of Canary Islands balconies and furniture.
Autochthonous sports such as the popular Stick Game are often played in Firgas. This has meant that the crafts of the municipality also tend to include farming implements such as yokes, ploughs, etc.
Other craft items local to Firgas are the production of espadrilles made from esparto grass, embroidery and openwork embroidery, and traditional Canary Islands costumes.
The majority of the craftspeople of the municipality have their own workshops located in the centre of the municipality, where they can receive visits and their work can be admired, and where craft items are available for sale.
The growing of watercress in the municipality of Firgas makes this the main ingredient of one of the most popular dishes in the gastronomy of the Canary Islands, which can be found in almost all the local restaurants: watercress stew.
Visitors can also try a wide variety of Canary Islands dishes in the same restaurants, such as ‘carajacas’ (made from liver), wrinkled potatoes with mojo sauce, etc.
There are several restaurants in Firgas that are well known by almost all the inhabitants of Gran Canaria, where you can find platters of grilled beef, roast chicken and try chorizos and morcillas (salami and black sausage) of the island accompanied by servings of garbanzadas (chickpea dishes).
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Would you like to walk around Valle de Azuaje?
ExcursionsGranCanaria.com offers walks for small groups all around the stunning ravine of Azuaje. It includes visits to the old town centres of Arucas and Firgas.
