Galdosian route: 04. The Consistorio

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria · Category: Routes · Subcategory: Galdosian route

A year before Galdós was born, in 1842, a deliberately started fire swept through the old town hall building that stood opposite the Cathedral at the turn of the 16th century. All the public island archives went up in smoke along with the rest of the building and furniture. 

The plenary hall was witness to acts featuring Galdós on several occasions: the proclamation of his election of member of the RAE. On 6th March 1883 the Plenary agreed to place a bust of him in the Salón Dorado. On another occasion he was put forward for a Nobel Prize with a telegram being sent to the Ateneo de Madrid, with D. Mariano de Cavia gratefully receiving the proposal. However, it would be German Hauptmann, a drama writer, who would be chosen that year, and after that, Rabindranath Tagore.

The Consistorio is the former Town Hall, built around the middle of the 19th century over the ruins of the previous 16th century building. On the top floor of the Palace the Real Audiencia courts was also set up, while the Canary Museum had its first headquarters there. The former Consistorio is currently used for special municipal celebrations. The statue of Victorio Macho was also exhibited there for a time, following the disappearance of the Old Harbour of San Telmo.

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