Gran 5

[Karmen Mcarthun]

Sometimes we in Abruzzo can be immune to the wonders around us, the incredible mist, cloud and play of the light in the mountains, we almost take it for granted! Then some fresh eyes come along to pull us back and say wow, making us appreciate this magical region on the doorstep of Rome, in this case, it was the Landscape PhotographyVlogcast team that recently visited the region for the first time.

This trip had been in the making for over two years due to world events. Although Matt, Tom and I had been doing the Landscape Photography Vlogcast together for some time, we had not met in person up to this point. So, the idea was born; a trip over to Italy to visit Matt and at the same time scout for a future workshop. We managed to get a window in which we were all available to travel so off we went.

We spent a magical two days at this location before moving on for a further two days in Intermesoli at the Ristoro del Venacquaro on the other side of the Gran Sasso range of mountains in the province of Teramo.

In this area (which had a different feel entirely from the first location), we were greeted by the Gran Sasso mountains which I have no other words for other than epic. Rising from the valley floors below and towering up above us, they were enormous and unlike anything I had experienced before, especially on a photography trip. This area is spectacular and relatively unvisited by international photographers (as local knowledge is a must here to find the locations). Having someone local, who not only speaks the language but knows the area intimately is essential. We were lucky to have not only Matt, who lives and works in Italy but also Luigi Nespeca, who is local to the area and climbs these mountains every week.

I have to say that I am completely in love with this area, the people and the culture. Everything about it is amazing and the area has so much worth exploring, especially for photography. Moving on from this trip, we will be offering workshops in this area. Not only will it be somewhere new for international photographers to experience; but it will also be a huge benefit to this area of Italy. Stay tuned for announcements regarding these tours and planned dates on the Vlogcast!

Sam is a very lucky midlife 'mamma' to A who is 12 and juggles her work as a self-employed freelance SEO food and travel copywriter and EFL teacher. She is the founder of the Life In Abruzzo Cultural Association, co-founder of Let's Blog Abruzzo. she is the founder of the 'English in the Woods' initiative, teaching English outdoors in a forest style school.

Gran Canaria (.mw-parser-output .IPA-label-smallfont-size:85%.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-smallfont-size:100%UK: /ˌɡrn kəˈnɛəriə, -ˈnɑːr-/, US: /ˌɡrɑːn kəˈnɑːriə, -ˈnɛər-/;[2][3] Spanish pronunciation: [ɡɾaŋ kaˈnaɾja]), also Grand Canary Island, is the third-largest and second-most-populous island of the Canary Islands,[4] an archipelago off the Atlantic coast of Northwest Africa and is part of Spain. As of 2023[update] the island had a population of 862,893 that constitutes approximately 40% of the population of the archipelago.Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the capital of the island, is the biggest city of the Canary Islands and the ninth of Spain.

Gran Canaria is located in the Atlantic Ocean in a region known as Macaronesia about 150 kilometres (93 mi) off the northwestern coast of Africa and about 1,350 km (840 mi) from Europe.[5] With an area of 1,560 km2 (600 sq mi)[6] and an altitude of 1,956 m (6,417 ft) at Morro de la Agujereada, Gran Canaria is the third largest island of the archipelago in both area and altitude. Gran Canaria is also the third most populated island in Spain.[7]

In antiquity, Gran Canaria was populated by the North African Canarii, who may have arrived as early as 500 BC.[8] In the medieval period, after over a century of European incursions and attempts at conquest, the island was conquered on April 29, 1483, by the Crown of Castile, under Queen Isabella I. The conquest succeeded after a war that lasted five years, and it was an important step towards the expansion of the unified Spain.

The capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria was founded on June 24, 1478, under the name "Real de Las Palmas", by Juan Rejn, head of the invading Castilian army. In 1492, Christopher Columbus anchored in the Port of Las Palmas (and spent some time on the island) on his first trip to the Americas. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is, jointly with Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands. Much of Iberian migration to the island consisted of conversos of Jewish origin.[9]

Pliny claimed that the island was named for the dogs on the island, of which two were presented as a gift to Juba, King of Mauretania.[11] This opinion is disputed as when the Europeans arrived on the island, no dogs were found.[11] Another source suggested the way the natives ate fish was doglike and this was the reason for its name.[11] A more plausible assumption is that the islands name derives from the people Canario or Canarii living near the Atlas mountain range.[12] Jean de Bthencourt named the island Gran Canaria as the people on the island were valorous opponents to his conquest.[12]

Gran Canaria is located in the Canary Islands archipelago southeast of Tenerife and west of Fuerteventura. The island is of volcanic origin, mostly made of fissure vents. It has a round shape, with a diameter of approximately 50 km (31 mi) and a surface area of 1,560 km2 (600 sq mi). Gran Canaria's maximum elevation is 1,956 metres (6,417 ft) at Morro de la Agujereada, although the nearby Pico de las Nieves has traditionally been considered the island's tallest peak. The coastline measures 236 km.

About 80% of the volume of the island was formed during the Miocene period eruptions, between 14 and 9 million years ago.[13] This is called the "Old Cycle" and is estimated to have lasted some 200,000 years and have emitted about 1,000 km3 (240 cu mi), mostly of fissural alkali basalt. This cycle continued with the emission of trachytes, phonolites and peralkaline rocks.[14] This period was followed by one of erosion, which lasted some 4 million years.[15]

A second cycle of volcanic eruptions, known as the "Roque Nublo cycle", took place between 4.5 and 3.4 million years ago. This shorter cycle emitted about 100 km3 (24 cu mi). Most of the inland peaks were formed by erosion from these materials. This period also started with fissural basalts, but ended with violent eruptions of pyroclastic flows. Some phonolitic features, like the Risco Blanco, were also formed in its last stages.[15]

The changes in volume and, therefore, weight of the island have also caused the island to rise above the previous sea level during erosive periods and to sink during eruptive periods. Some of these "fossil beaches" can be seen in the cliff faces of the more eroded northern coast.[17]

Until the conquest, Gran Canaria had extensive forests, but then suffered extensive deforestation[18] as a result of continuous logging, land divisions and other intensive uses. This reduced the forest cover to just 56,000 hectares (140,000 acres),[18] making the island the most deforested of the Canary Islands.[19] However, in the twentieth century reforestation of the ridge of the island was begun, recovering some of the lost forest mass. Much of the summit of the island is forested mostly due to reforestation.[18]

Gran Canaria is in the autonomous community of the Canary Islands (Islas Canarias). It lies within the Province of Las Palmas, a Spanish province which consists of the eastern part of the Canary Islands community. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the provincial capital, one of the two capitals of the Canary Islands along with Santa Cruz de Tenerife.[20]

The island has a population at the start of 2023 of 862,893 - with 380,863 of those in the capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Gran Canaria is the second most populous island of the Canary Islands, after Tenerife.[26]

Gran Canaria has roads encircling the whole island and extending into the mountain areas. In the late 20th century, its dual carriageway, among the first in the Canary Islands, were opened and run around Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and were later extended to the north coast and the airport and subsequently to the south coast in response to increased tourist traffic. The only highway of Gran Canaria are GC1. Dual carriageway is GC2, and GC31, GC4 and GC5. The western and the north-western parts, with the fewest inhabitants, are linked only with main roads.

Public transport around Gran Canaria is provided by an extensive bus network, known in the local dialect as guaguas. The Autoridad nica del Transporte de Gran Canaria (Gran Canaria Transport Authority, TGC) manages the network and operates a number of bus stations across the island, including San Telmo and Santa Catalina bus stations in Las Palmas, Maspalomas and Galdar.[27] Bus tickets may be purchased with cash, and AUTGC also operates a contactless electronic ticket called the TransGC Card, which is valid across the whole network.[28]

Inter-urban bus services across the island are operated by the Global bus company.[29][30] Global was created in 2000 after the merger of two bus companies, Utinsa (which operated in the north of the island) and Salcai (the bus operator for the south).[31] Local bus services in Las Palmas are run by the municipal bus company, Guaguas Municipales de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.[32]

Gran Canaria Airport (IATA: LPA) is the only commercial airport on the island. The large number of aircraft and passengers passing through it each year make it one of the busiest in Spain. Gran Canaria is also responsible for all air traffic control in the Canaries. By destination island, Gran Canaria is the second island that congregates the largest number of passengers in the Canary Islands.[33] Car rental companies that have offices in the airports are: Autoreisen, Avis, Cicar, Europcar, Goldcar (only south airport), Hertz, Sixt and TopCar.

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