Monday 12 December 2011

Insula Canaria - Island of the Dogs

A bronze dog statue in front of the Santa Ana cathedral in Las Palmas

These bronze statues of dogs guard the square in front of the Santa Ana Cathedral in Vegueta (the old town of Las Palmas).

The dogs gave the name of the Canary Islands. The Spanish name of the islands Islas Canarias is most probably derived from the Latin name Insula Canaria, meaning Island of the Dogs. Canis is the Latin word for dog.

Originally, the name Insula Canaria was applied to the island of Gran Canaria. Legend has it that the Mauretanian king Juba II named the island Canaria because there was 'a large population of dogs of very large size'.


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