Firgas: Water, History and Trails

Discover Firgas through its waterworks history, the streets in the town center and the municipality’s landscape. When planning your trip, you can distinguish the historic buildings and squares from the viewpoints and hiking trails: mills and irrigation systems tell the story of how water was used, while the natural attractions draw attention to ravines, plants and animals.

Strolls through the historic town center

Paseo de Gran Canaria is a pedestrian street in the historic town center. One of its distinctive features is a 30-meter-long stone cascade. Paseo de Canarias is also a pedestrian street in the town center, but it has a different theme: the seven Canary Islands, each with its coat of arms and a landscape typical of the island, are depicted on its pavement. The two streets thus reveal different sides of Firgas—here, the stone cascade; there, the islands in images.

Iglesia de San Roque is part of the town’s history. It stands on the ruins of the first chapel of San Juan de Ortega, dating from 1502, and opened as an independent parish on January 19, 1845. Casa de la Cultura was built in 1870 as a hotel or inn for visitors to the Azuaje spas. Today, the building houses the municipal library, an exhibition space and an event hall. Its transition from former accommodation for spa visitors to cultural uses is another facet of the town’s history.

Mills and traces of water use

El Molino de Agua was built in 1517 to supply Firgas’s early population with flour. In 2007, the mill was protected as a cultural asset in the “Sitio Etnológico” category. Molino de Firgas, also known as Molino del Conde, is another mill associated with the town; it has been restored for visitors. Museo Canario del Agua Villa de Firgas is a museum and interpretation center in Firgas.

The dates of other mills offer different historical reference points: Molino de Cha Margarita was built in 1870 and was the first mill in the Villa de Firgas. Molino de El Roque was built in 1855 and has been out of operation since 1970. A ruin of Molino de Guadalupe remains. It was the only mill in this area that did not use water from the Heredad de Arucas y Firgas. In Las Berreras, old structures in small ravines link waterworks with agricultural terraces. The rural landscape is considered to be of exceptional value; watercress grows on water-rich terraces in the district of San Antón.

Viewpoints, nature and hiking

The Reserva Natural Especial de Azuaje covers 61.1 hectares and has no resident population. It preserves one of the few remaining patches of laurel forest on Gran Canaria, as well as several endemic species. In the Barranco de Guadalupe area, reeds, pools, frogs and willows shape the natural surroundings. These details describe different aspects of the landscape: the protected natural area, its plant life and the habitats in the ravine.

There are several distinct spots from which to take in the surroundings. Mirador de Las Madres is 300 meters from the historic town center and offers views of the confluence of the Las Madres, Guadalupe and Aguaje ravines. Parque del Ganadero offers panoramic views of Gran Canaria’s north coast. The viewpoints mainly differ in what you can see from each one.

Firgas has six permanently established, signposted circular hiking trails, which can be distinguished by their colors. The Barranco de Las Madres y Guadalupe area also has numerous trails through lush vegetation that are suitable for hiking. Check trail conditions before setting out. Firgas’s main San Roque festival takes place on August 16 and includes a Romería, a livestock fair and the traditional Bajada del Palo; the specific program may vary from year to year.

Discover more destinations: Valleseco, Ingenio, Valsequillo, Gáldar, Agüimes, Melenara, La Sorrueda, El Majuelo

For the main travel overview: Gran Canaria.