Further along the north coast at the end of a steep ravine – the Barranco de Agaete, where bananas, mangos, papayas, oranges, lemons and other subtropical plants and trees grow on steep slopes – lies the small, but not quite sleepy, town of Agaete with its narrow streets and whitewashed houses surrounded by lush vegetation.
Many artists and art-lovers made this place their home, which also explains why you can find many art galleries here. This tranquil little town has in spite of its old age – it celebrated its 500th birthday in 1981 – few historic sites of interest. The oldest of which is the Iglesia de la Concepción, dating from 1874, opposite the Plaza de la Constitución, where you will see some attractive noble houses with carved wooden balconies. Nearby is a small botanical garden, the Huerto de las Flores, with many species of Canary and sub-tropical flora.
On the 4th of August one of the biggest parties on Gran Canaria, the Fiesta de la Rama, the origins of which lie in an obscure Guanche rain dance, takes place.
