Cenobio de Valeron in Canary Islands 2024

The Cenobio de Valerón is an archaeological park located in the Valeron ravine in the municipality of Santa María de Guía on the island of Gran Canaria. It is the most impressive and the largest pre-Hispanic granary—a network of approximately 200-300 caves dug out with stone or animal bone tools by the natives of the island. Ancient Canarians built these caves over 800 years ago. All the caves are located on different levels with the capacity of one to three square meters. Some of these caves were used as granaries, where Canarians used to store tools, utensils, food, and seeds.

This place once was a monastery, where young noble girls were imprisoned under the watchful eye of priestesses who prepared them for marriage. The Cenobio de Valerón was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1978. The park has been reopened after two years of construction and the improvement of archaeological premises. Nowadays visitors can learn all about the life of Ancient Canarians during guided tours. All along the route, ​there are information boards, scale models, and life-size recreations.