Insular Library – Plaza Hurtado Mendoza

The Biblioteca Insular de Gran Canaria occupies two historic buildings within the Vegueta–Triana urban complex. It covers almost an entire block located between Remedios Street, Muro Street and Plaza Hurtado de Mendoza, next to the course of the Guiniguada ravine.

The building facing the square, designed by Fernando Navarro in 1898, is one of the finest examples of late 19th-century architecture on the island. It has served various purposes and undergone several renovations, and since March 1991 it has functioned as the Biblioteca Insular de Gran Canaria.

The Cabildo de Gran Canaria later expanded the facilities with the acquisition of the house of Doña Úrsula Quintana Llarena, also known as the Palacete Romántico, designed in 1870 by Manuel Ponce de León. The noble coat of arms bearing the surnames Quintana, Nava, Falcón and Llarena is still preserved on the façade.

In 2013, the new Biblioteca Insular was inaugurated, uniting these two historic buildings into a single cultural facility.

The Biblioteca Insular and the shopping centre located in the former Hotel Monopol make Plaza Hurtado de Mendoza a lively and vibrant place, as it has always been thanks to its position between Vegueta and Triana. The square takes its name from the mayor who served between 1903 and 1908, to whom the sculptural ensemble located in the square is dedicated. However, it has been known by other names, the most popular being Plazuela de Las Ranas, in reference to the ornamentation of the fountain that presides over the square.

Services:

Study and reading room, press and magazine room, reference and consultation room, children’s and young people’s room.

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 08:00 to 19:45. Study and reading room, press and magazine room: Monday to Sunday, 24 hours a day.