Casa Balboa

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria · Category: Architecture · Subcategory: Civil architecture · Year: S. XVI

This building is attributed as having been the home of Silvestre de Balboa (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 30 June 1563 - Santa María del Puerto del Príncipe, Cuba, c. 1644), a Canarian writer and author of the epic poem Espejo de Paciencia , considered the first Cuban literary work.

Located in the former plazuela del Peso de la Harina (now Espíritu Santo), so named because on the road that crossed it (today Calle Castillo) there was a customs checkpoint to weigh the flour entering or leaving the city, the building presents itself as a magnificent example of architecture built to house prosperous families of the mid-16th century. 

Of the two-storey house with a rooftop terrace, the stonework framing the main entrance stands out on its façade, connecting to the wooden balcony on the second floor, which is accessed from the interior through a main window-door. Other openings are irregularly distributed on the side façades. Inside, a hallway leads to a patio, a staircase, and various rooms (storerooms, cellars, kitchen, etc.). On the upper floor are the spaces dedicated to domestic life. 

A plaque on the exterior of the building reminds us of the residence of Silvestre de Balboa, one of the pioneers of both Canarian and Cuban literature.

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