The arrival of Pope Leo XIV in Gran Canaria on June 11th marks a historic milestone as the first visit by a Vatican head to the island. However, the island has been a recurring destination for figures of great importance throughout the centuries, a fact as old as the colonization of America itself.
Among the most notable visits is that of Christopher Columbus, who stopped at the bay of Las Isletas on August 4, 1492, to repair his ship, 'La Pinta,' before embarking on his journey to America. This historical event has been subject to debate, with motions even being proposed regarding the navigator's presence on the island.
More recently, Gran Canaria has welcomed world leaders such as Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, whose 2024 visit necessitated significant security measures and an exclusive tour of the Casa de Colón. Other heads of state, like former Argentine president Carlos Menem, have also visited the island, enjoying its shopping opportunities.
The presence of the Spanish Royal Family is common on the island, including a visit from the current King and Queen, Felipe and Letizia, to inaugurate the newspaper's newsroom in 2008. Even historical figures like Francisco Franco stayed at the Hotel Madrid in 1936, the night before the coup d'état.
A separate chapter is dedicated to the astronauts of Apollo 11. Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin, and Michael Collins visited Gran Canaria just three months after their historic moon landing in 1969. The island, through its space station in Maspalomas, played a crucial role by being the first to contact the spacecraft after its launch. The astronauts enjoyed rest and received local honors.
Science has also been represented with the visit of four Nobel laureates in Medicine in 1996: Werner Arber, Jean Dausset, Renato Dulbeco, and Carleton Gajdusek, who were received by the then-mayor José Manuel Soria.
Internationally renowned artists have found inspiration on the island. The Hotel Metropole was a key location for the work of Agatha Christie. The filming of Moby Dick in 1954 brought director John Huston and actor Gregory Peck to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; Peck even attended a UD Las Palmas match. Musicians such as Miles Davis, Bruce Springsteen, Ramones, Van Morrison, Elton John, Chuck Berry, Rubén Blades, and Celia Cruz have also performed or visited the island.
Gran Canaria has also been the scene of international scandals. The yacht 'Christina O' belonging to Greek shipowner Aristotle Onassis frequently visited the island, witnessing his relationship with Jacqueline Kennedy. The body of Robert Maxwell, a prominent communications magnate, washed ashore near the island in 1991. In 1997, top model Naomi Campbell was hospitalized following a reported suicide attempt.
