Journey to the centre of Gran Canaria

From Milan come reports of rainy and cold days, but here in Maspalomas, in the south of Gran Canaria, the thermometer reads 31 degrees, despite it being well into November. The day is beautiful, so we decide to take a tour of the centre of the island. We take the road towards Fataga. The landscape immediately becomes breathtaking, with a grand view over the dunes and Meloneras.

A few km later, from a terrace you can admire the south of the island and the valley that leads to our first destination. It feels like being in the Wild West!! The mountains recall John Wayne films.

We arrive in Fataga. The little village is charming and particularly green. We go to see the Molino de Agua that we found on The photos didn't do the place justice. It's well kept and with a beautiful view over the valley. We stop to eat and meet Franco the owner (as if he wouldn't be an Italian) who moved here from Tuscany and could only open a farm stay. We continue towards San Bartolomè, which doesn't appeal to us much, and then towards the Roque Nublo, the highest point of the island. Incredible, but even though we're at over 1000 metres of altitude you can still see the sea!! We could make an advert like the one for the Fichi d'India: "Friends, I'm selling a mountain villa with SEA VIEW hahaha!!!"

It's Sunday and we meet quite a few motorcyclists and after crossing a hill towards another valley we arrive at our second stop. We leave the car in the tiny car park and set off on foot towards the top of the mountain. The walk could be done even by a child, but not by my wife who, halfway, is already tired and wants to turn back. So we take the car again and head towards Tejeda. Suddenly, after a bend, Tenerife appears. It's a marvellous spectacle and we can't help but stop to take some photos of the island. It seems suspended and the shape of the Teide, the highest mountain in Spain, makes you think of a beautiful woman lying among the clouds. Tejeda is pretty and worth a stop to take a stroll and have a coffee. The temperature has dropped and when we reach Cruz de Tejeda, the last destination of the day, the car thermometer reads 11 degrees!!!!