The capital city of the island of La Gomera is located on the eastern part of the island. The small urban centre conserves monuments of the intense historical development that the island has had since its settlement by Europeans in the early XV century.

This development commenced with the arrival of the original conquistadores captained by the Norman adventurer Jean de Béthencourt.

Soon after the initiation of settlement, the city was host to Christopher Columbus, who briefly stopped here on three of his four voyages of discovery. It seems that the Canary Islands have all had an intense relationship with the famous Genoese admiral. La Gomera is no exception.

Christopher Columbus stopped here on three of his four voyages, those of 1492, 1493 and 1498. During these rest periods, Columbus stayed in a house along the Calle Real.

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Place Worth Visiting

The Torre del Conde was constructed by Hernán Peraza the Elder in 1477 as defence against the island’s aborigines. It was also used as a fortress against the frequent pirate attacks that that island suffered throughout the XV and XVI centuries. The tower is 15 metres high and its thick walls are reinforced with huge rocks of red lava, a product from the interior of the earth, abundant on these isles.

The Parador of San Sebastian is located in a typically luxurious building with unrivalled views over the city and the Atlantic Ocean. The location, perched as it is on a steep cliff, provides the visitor with a privileged place in which to enjoy the city. Parador de La Gomera: +34 922 87 11 00.

Important Dates and Fiestas

20th January is the Fiesta of San Sebastian.

6th September: the Fiestas Colombianas.

First Monday of October: Romeria de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe – a walk in one of the stunning natural parks of the island.