San Sebastián de La Gomera

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San Sebastián de La Gomera
Municipality
San Sebastián de La Gomera
San Sebastián de La Gomera
Coat of arms of San Sebastián de La Gomera
Coat of arms
San Sebastián in La Gomera
San Sebastián in La Gomera
San Sebastián de La Gomera is located in Canary Islands
San Sebastián de La Gomera
San Sebastián de La Gomera
Location in Canary Islands
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Country  Spain
Autonomous Community  Canary Islands
Province Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Island La Gomera
Government
 • Mayor Ángel Luis Castilla Herrera (PSOE)
Area[1]
 • Total 113.59 km2 (43.86 sq mi)
Population (2013)[2]
 • Total 8,699
 • Density 77/km2 (200/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+0)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (GMT +1) (UTC+1)
Postal code 38880
Area code(s) +34 (Spain) + 922 (Tenerife)
Website Town Hall

San Sebastián de la Gomera is a town (the main port and capital) and a municipality on La Gomera in the Canary Islands, Spain. The population is 8,699 (2013)[2] and the area is 113.59 km².[1]

The port serves ferry routes to the islands of Tenerife, La Palma and El Hierro. Streets include Calle Real and F. Olsen. A bus station named Estación de Guaguas is used for bus lines throughout the island; it is located on Avenida Quinta Centenario.

Historical population

Year Population
1991 5,606
1996 6,199
2001 6,618
2002 7,138
2003 6,902
2004 7,984
2013 8,699

History

The area was inhabited by the Guanches before the arrival of the Spanish. Hernán Peraza arrived in 1440. Christopher Columbus stopped at the harbour on 6 September 1492 before heading to India but arrived in America instead. The building in which Columbus stayed whilst on the island is now a museum.

Sites of interest in the town

  • Torre del Conde - a tower in the middle of the valley
  • Casa del Colón, a museum dedicated to Christopher Columbus
  • Casa de los Peraza
  • Pozo de La Aguada
  • Iglesia de La Asunción and Ermita de San Sebastián Churches
  • Ermita de la Virgen de Guadalupe

Municipality

Outside the town of San Sebastian the municipality includes the settlements of

The municipality also includes these sites of interest:

  • Barranco del Cabrito
  • Los Roques rocks
  • Punta Llana
  • Majona Nature Park

Tourism

The port serves as a hub for tourists arriving in ferries from the nearby island of Tenerife. The main ferry companies are Fred. Olsen Express and Naviera Armas.

In Puntallana is the chapel of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint of the island of La Gomera.

Economy

The economy of San Sebastián de La Gomera is centered on the functions of the capital and its port, as well as in the public sector, particularly in the transportation, trading, and tourism of Tenerife.

Pictures

The relatively quiet island is only a short 35 minute hop from nearby Tenerife which is almost always visible from La Gomera.

San Sebastián de la Gomera, with the towering volcano Teide in the background on the island of Tenerife

See also

References