Literary Cabinet

You're now in front of a monument called the Literary Cabinet, or gabinete literario here in the Canaries. Its neoclassical and modernist architecture makes it one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, standing elegantly on Cairasco square. It's part of Las Palmas's cultural centres, hosting artistic events and working to spread cultural events. It’s played a major role for the Canary Islands in literary, scientific and cultural fields, and continues to develop social and environmental projects for the city. In 2011, it received the gold medal of the Canary Islands, a prize given to individuals or organisations by the government of the Canary Islands to recognise the efforts they make to improve the quality of life of the island's inhabitants. This organisation created, for example, the Las Palmas Philharmonic Orchestra, the mutual insurance society and the first Gran Canaria industry exhibition. The Literary Cabinet was founded in 1844 and located in the Cairasco theatre at the time, the first theatre built in the Canary Islands, in 1845. The structure unfortunately had multiple construction defects that forced the city to demolish it and rebuild a building to house this institution. It's flanked by two towers on each side of its façade, topped with small domes, and it houses the frescoes of Manuel Gonzalez Mendez, painted on its ceiling at the beginning of the 20th century. With all this, you'll have understood that the Gabinete Literario is an unmissable monument of Las Palmas, whether for its architecture, its beautiful modernist interior and the initiatives it supports for the local community! If you'd like to explore it further, guided tours are available!