Monastery Saint Francis of Assisi

You’re now in front of the Monastery of Saint Francis of Assisi. Originally built in 1518 by a Sevillian named Pedro Llerena, it was founded as a convent dedicated to the founder of the Franciscan order. After being damaged by pirate attacks, it was rebuilt in the 17th century and now serves as the seat of the Saint Francis parish, founded in 1821. In the square of the same name, you’ll see a bust of Christopher Columbus, the famous explorer who stopped in Las Palmas in 1492. This monastery holds a unique historical link to Columbus himself: it was here that the first vegetable seeds were cultivated before being carried across the Atlantic to the New World. A small but remarkable detail that makes this one of the most historically significant sites in the city!