The botanical garden on the island of Gran Canaria is named after Viera Clavijo (Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo). The Spanish scholar, ethnographer, and clergyman José Viera y Clavijo lived from 1731 to 1813 and died in Las Palmas. The creation of a botanical garden on Gran Canaria was his idea, and it was realized by another scholar – the Swedish botanist Erik Svensson.
The garden is located near the island’s capital, on the slope of Mount Guiniguada, in the town of Tafira Alta. It covers an area of 10 hectares along the Barranco de Guiniguada ravine. The garden is situated on both sides of the ravine, connected by two bridges – one wooden and one stone.
At the entrance, a bust of Viera Clavijo is mounted on a pedestal with a memorial inscription. There is also a monument to the founder and first director, Erik Svensson, in the garden. This garden was the work of a lifetime for the Swedish scholar. He personally collected samples of rare plants, climbing cliffs and venturing into hard-to-reach places.
Preparations for the opening of the botanical garden began in 1952. The task was not easy: in addition to laying out the landscape, building bridges and paths, it was necessary to plan the garden’s layout with a view to the future, envisioning how it would look several decades later. Separate spaces were designated for different plant species, and habitats closely resembling their natural environments were created. The garden officially opened in 1959. The grounds of Jardín Botánico Canario were divided into themed zones.
What to see?
At the garden’s entrance is the Palm Square, featuring endemic palm trees of the Canary Islands. Further on, you can see the Laurel Forest (the noble laurel once covered significant areas but is now considered an endangered species). Beyond the laurel plantings lies the Pine Forest.
A large area of the garden is occupied by the Islands Gardens, where unique plants from different islands of the archipelago are grouped together in separate sections according to their native growing zones. The Cactus Garden features more than two thousand species of succulents – not only from the Canary Islands but also from the Americas, Africa, and Madagascar.
The vertically oriented landscape of the botanical garden mirrors the topography of the Canary Islands. Along a winding trail, you can climb upwards to the symbol of the Canaries – the Dragon Tree. At the upper part of the complex, there is a stone viewpoint. The grounds also feature a greenhouse, an artificial waterfall, and gazebos.
Since 1983, the garden has maintained a seed bank for trees endemic to the Canary Islands and has implemented a conservation program for endangered species. Visitors to the complex have access to a library, herbarium, and laboratories. Jardín Botánico Canario can be visited year-round, with January and February considered the best months for viewing.
- Ботанический сад Вьера и Клавихо
- Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo
- Адрес: Carretera Nueva San Lorenzo, Km 2, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España
- GPS: 28,06564 -15,46017
