LA LUZ PORT
Las Palmas Port docks and street name origin
We have researched the origins and meanings of the street names in the port of Las Palmas to commemorate and recognize the
important contributions of pioneers in the development of our port through the years to its current state:
MUELLES / DOCKS
C/ Antonio Armas Curbelo
Antonio Armas Curbelo was born in Lanzarote in 1899. He started working with wooden hull boats and sailing boats transporting salt and general cargo to the islands. Armas Curbelo later on included steel hull ships with diesel propulsion and steam engines into the fleet, thus expanding the commercial activity of the company beyond the borders of the islands, gaining importance in the old province of Spanish Sahara/
His son, Antonio Armas Fernández, picked up the baton from his entrepreneurial father and is currently the
chairman of the company. He knows the new trends in the sector and thanks to his initiative the first roll-on / roll-off vessels were introduced into the Canary Islands. This stage started in 1975, with the purchase of two minor GRT ships, which covered the inter-insular routes, called Volcán de Yaiza and Volcán de Tahíche.
Avda. ANDRÉS PERDOMO
Andrés Perdomo Torres was born in the island of Lanzarote (1914). In 1935 he established his own business providing full-scale general agency services to both steamships and sailing boats calling at La Luz Port. He later got started in the export and import business and, as a shipowner, became a key contributor to the development of the port. He received various honor awards throughout his life.
Avda. de Los Cambulloneros
The term “Cambullón” is very common in the Canary Islands and originally comes from the phrase: “can buy on”, that is, “you can buy it on board ship”.
It stems from islanders selling goods such as fruit, tobacco, table linen, souvenirs and other trinkets on barter basis as the captain informed passengers on the ship “you can buy them on board”. This phrase gradually turned into “Cambullón” due to the barterers’ inability to speak or understand English adequately.
Avda. DE LOS CONSIGNATARIOS
This avenue within the harbor honors the Association of Ship Agents operating in La Luz Port dating back to its founding partners in January 1925.
Esta avenida dentro del (recinto portuario) hace honor a la Asociación de Agentes Navales que operan en el Puerto de la Luz desde Enero de 1925 gracias a sus socios fundadores.
Avda.de Las Petrolíferas
C/ Blandy Brothers
C/ Cía Navigation Paquet
C/ Guinchete
Explanada de Vapores Insulares
Back in 1.866 the Overseas Minister of Spain, Fernando de León y Castillo brought up the idea of improving the existing interisland connections by choosing a service provider through tendering or auction methods. Open the proposals for the granting of this service and after competing with other bidders, the company “Interinsular Mail Steamship Company Limited” (Compañía de VaporesCorreosInterinsularesCanarios), subsidiary of the English Co. Elder Dempster Ltd., was finally awarded the concession to provide this service. Their first two steamships, built in England, were christened with the names of “León y Castillo” and “Viera y Clavijo” respectively.
C/ YBARRA Y CÍA
Founded in Seville in 1881 to operate cargo services and in 1927 started to operate passenger services linking the ports of South America, Mediterranean and Canary Islands. Their ship agent in Las Palmas was Juan Bordes Claverie. The company continued as ship owners until 1981 when their last ship was taken over by CompañíaTrasmediterránea.
They continued as agents until 2005 when the company was finally taken over by Hamburg Sud after its acquiring all the shares of Ybarra y Cía. Sudamérica S.A. (Ybarra Sud). In December 2006
the brand Ybarra y Cía. Sudamérica S.A. (Ybarra Sud) is replaced by the Hamburg Süd Iberia S.A brand.
C/ Veloce
La Veloce Linea di Navigazione Italiana a Vapore was founded in 1884 to run services between Italy and South
America. An unforgettable tragedy took place off the Canary Islands at 6 am on September 13, 1888, when one of its liners, “Sud America I”, with 260 passengers, 69 crew and 700 tons of cargo in transit from Buenos Aires to Genoa (its homeport) was busy anchoring for bunkering and disembarking passengers on the bay of La Luz.
Unfortunately, she was rammed at her bow by the French steamer La France from SGT Le Havre La France. La
France was on her way in the same trip from Rio de la Plata with more than 1,300 passengers and crew. As a
result of this terrible collision between the Italian and French steamers, the former, “Sud America I”, sank shortly afterwards, leaving only the end of her four masts, within 600 meters from the beach. 79 people died in the accident
C/ Miguel Curbelo Espino
He was the founder of the ship agency M. Curbelo y Cía., co-founder of the Ship Agents Association of Las Palmas (Asociación de Consignatarios de Buques de Las Palmas) and key defender of La Luz. He was a highly reputed agent within the port and gained very high standing, achieving credibility and prestige not only among businessmen from the maritime sector but also within society in the first decades of the XX Century. He was president of “La Junta de Obras del Puerto”and “La Cámara de Comercio de Industria y Navegación”. He took part in the political life of the island and actually was involved in the creation of the Island Council (Cabildo de Gran Canaria) back in 1913.
C/ Mr. Pavillard
The Pavillard family was British. They were part of a large British shipping/trading community which had built up in the Canary Islands from the middle of the nineteenth century, and were connected with the Elder Dempster shipping line, which ran from the UK to West and South Africa and South America – the Canaries were an important coaling station in those days. Víctor E. Pavillard was the director of the Elder Dempster Shipping Company in Las Palmas. He also founded “La Cocina Económica” to help the needy and families struggling to put food on the table for their children during the WWI. He had seven children, the youngest of which, Stanley, married an Australian model, Irene. He returned to Las Palmas where he practised medicine for many years. Stanley was a renowned doctor who practised with unique style – he was always transported to house calls in an immaculate chauffeur driven Rolls Royce.
C/ O.P.D.R
The German shipping line Oldenburg-PortugiesischeDampfschiffs-Rhederei (O.P.D.R.) was founded in 1882. Their first activity was to establish a regular line service between Oldenburg and Portugal. In 1910 August Schultze starts a new service to the Canary Islands. Thanks to their well known reliability OPDR attains the transport license for the mail of the German Empire. At present, OPDR Canarias is its subsidiary in the Canaries and belongs to the Schulte Group.
C/ Otto Thoresen - Fred Olsen
The origins of Fred. Olsen & Co. date back to 1848 when the Fred. Olsen family first entered the ship owning business. In 1921 Fred Olsen took over Otto Thoresen’s lines, included the Mediterranean and Canary Islands.
Since the founding of the company, Ferry Gomera, S.A., in 1974, Fred. Olsen has firmly stood by his resolve to develop maritime links in the Canary Isles. Fred. Olsen’s goal has always been to connect the seven islands of the archipelago via the shortest routes, at the same time offering maximum speed and comfort.
Plaza Camilo Martinón Navarro
Mr. CamiloMartinón Navarro was a well-known ship agent who provided shipping agency services to Trasmediterránea, Trasatlántica, American West African Lines and other shipping lines operating within La Luz Port.
Plaza Juan Bordes Claverie
Naviera Pinillos, a Spanish shipping company operating in the Canary Islands, was represented in La Luz Port by Juan BordesClaverie, who acted as their agent. He was also one of the promoters to form the Ship Agents Association of Las Palmas (Asociación de Consignatarios de Buques de Las Palmas) and presided over it between 1932 and 1951.
Plaza Mr. Park
From a British family, Ian Kendal Park was born in Barcelona. He moved to Gran Canaria at the beginning of the twenties. He married Dorothy Kathleen Quiney on 14 April 1928 in Las Palmas. In 1940 he took over the presidency of Miller & Co. and established the harbor towing services company (Compañía Canaria de Remolcadores). He promoted several initiatives such as the British Club, the Queen Victoria Hospital, the British Church and the British Cemetery to name but a few.
C/ Pinillos Izquierdo
It is the oldest and best known shipping company of Spain. It was founded in Cadiz in 1835 by Mr. Miguel Martinez de Pinillos y Saenz de Velasco. It was engaged in the transport of goods and passengers between the West Indies and Canary Islands. The first two ships in operation were Apolo and Castilla.
C/ Unión Castle Line
The Union-Castle Line was a prominent British shipping line that operated a fleet of passenger liners and cargo ships between Europe and Africa with stop at Las Palmas.
renowned CANARIANS THROUGH HISTORY
Agustín de Betancourt y Molina, Engineer, Founder of the «Escuela de Caminos y Canales»
Agustín Millares Cubas, Novelist and Playwright
Agustín Millares Torres, Writer, Historian, Musician and Teacher
Alberto Vázquez-Figueroa, Writer
Alejandro Hidalgo Romero, Politician and Teacher
Alfonso Espínola Vega, Scientist, Doctor and Teacher
Alfonso Gourie, Industrial Merchant
Alfredo Kraus, Opera Singer
Alonso Alvarado y Ulloa, Military Official
Alonso Quesada, Writer
Amaranto Martínez de Escobar y Luján, Lawyer, Writer, Journalist, Painter and Poet
Ambrosio Hurtado de Mendoza, Lawyer and Politician
Andrés Navarro Torrent, Medical Officer and Teacher
Ángel Guimerá, Writer
Antonio Artiles Ortega, Civil Servant, Journalist and Teacher
Antonio Betancor Pulido A Pioneer Ship Supplier and founder of Morpul, S.L.
Antonio de Viana, Scientist, Doctor and Poet
Antonio González y González, Scientist, Chemist
Antonio López Botas, Lawyer, Teacher and Politician
Aythami Ruano, Judoka
Bartolomé Apolinario y Macías, Doctor
Bartolomé Cairasco da Figueroa, Writer and Poet
Bencomo, Pre-Hispanic King
Beneharo, Pre-Hispanic King
Benito Pérez Galdós, Writer, Lawyer and Journalist
Bernardino Valle Chiniestra, Musician
Bernardo de la Torre Comminges, Merchant and Politician
Blas Cabrera Felipe, Scientist
Blas García Ravelo, Sculptor
Braulio, Singer
Buenaventura Codina y Augerolas, Religious Person
Caco Senante, Salsa Singer and Actor
Carla Antonelli, LGBT Rights Activist and Actress
Carla Suárez Navarro, Tennis Player
Carolina Bang, Actress
Cayetano de Lugo y Eduardo, Politician
César Manrique, Artist
Cristo Marrero Henríquez, Professional Footballer
Cristóbal de la Cámara y Murga, Religious Person
Cristóbal del Castillo y Manrique de Lara, Politician
Daida Ruano, Six time Windsurfing World Champion, twin sister of Iballa Ruano
Danny Vain, Professional Photographer & Lyricist
David Silva, Football Player
Diego Mesa de León, Civil Servant, Teacher and Politician
Diego Nicolás Eduardo, Architect and Religious Person
Domingo Déniz Grech, Writer, Civil Servant, Historian and Doctor
Domingo Doreste Rodríguez, Lawyer, Civil Servant and Journalist
Domingo J. Navarro y Pastrana, Writer, Historian, Doctor and Teacher
Domingo López Torres, Painter, Writer, Poet and Marxist Revolutionary
Domingo Pérez Minik, Writer
Doramas, Pre-Hispanic Warrior
Eduardo Westerdahl, Painter, Art Critic and Writer
Elena Izquier, Monologuist and Writer
Emeterio Gutiérrez Albelo, Poet
Emiliano Martínez de Escobar y Luján, Lawyer, Journalist, Musician, Teacher and Religious p.
Emilio Ley Arata, Merchant and Diplomat
Eusebio Navarro y Ruiz, Politician and Journalist
Federico León y García, Scientist, Civil Servant, Doctor and Politician
Felipe de la Nuez Aguilar, Lawyer, Civil Servant, Politician and Teacher
Fernando Guanarteme, Pre-Hispanic king
Fernando Inglott Navarro, Scientist, Teacher and Politician
Fernando León y Castillo, Politician and Diplomat
Frances Ondiviela, Telenovelas Actress, former Miss Spain and Model
Francisco de Miranda, Venezuelan General, Politician and Precursor of South America
Independence
Francisco González Díaz, Writer, Journalist and Poet
Francisco Gourié Marrero, Farmer and Politician
Francisco Tomás Morales, Military Official
Goya Toledo, Actress and Model
Graciliano Afonso y Naranjo, Lawyer, Poet, Politician and Religious Person
Gregorio Chill Naranjo, Scientist, Writer, Historian and Doctor
Gregorio Toledo, Painter
Guillermo Sureda, Painter
Iballa Ruano, Professional Windsurfer, twin sister of Daida Ruano
Ignacio Pérez Galdós, Military Official
Javier Bardem, Academy Awarded actor
Jerónimo Saavedra, Politician, Mayor of Las Palmas and two times President of Canaries
Jose Campeche, Artist
José Comas Quesada, Painter
José de Anchieta, Jesuit Priest and Missionary
José del Perojo y Figueras, Politician
José Doreste, sailor, Yacht Racer and Olympic Champion
José Franchy y Roca, Journalist and Politician, Minister of Industry in the Second Spanish Republic
José Manuel Soria Lopez, Politician, Minister of Tourism and Sport
José María Millares Sall, Poet
José Mesa y López, Lawyer, Civil Servant, Teacher and Politician
Jose Toledo, Model and TV Host
José Vélez, Singer
José Viera y Clavijo, Historian
José Miguel Bravo de Laguna, Politician
José Miranda Guerra, Juan Alvarado del Saz, Lawyer, Civil Servant and Politician
Juan Bautista Servera, Religious Person
Juan Bravo Murillo, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, Filmmaker
Juan Carlos Valerón, Football player
Juan de Bethencourt, Conquerer and Politician
Juan de Frías, Religious Person
Juan de León y Castillo, Engineer, Scientist an Politician. His figure was crucial in the construction of La Luz Port (Puerto de La Luz)
Juan de Miranda, Juan de Quesada y Déniz, Civil Servant, Journalist and Politician
Juan E. Doreste, Juan E. Ramírez y Doreste, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Politician and Jurist, former Minister of Justice
Juan Izquier, Vela Latina Pioneer (skipper)
Juan José Cardona, Mayor of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Juan María de León y Jóven, Juan Negrín, Politician
Juan Padilla y Padilla, Juan Rejón, Juan Verde Suárez, Politician
Julián Cirilo Moreno, K-Narias, Reggaeton Pop Duo
Leopoldo Matos y Massieu, Lawyer and Politician
Leopoldo O’Donnell, General and Statesman
Luis Antúnez Monzón, Politician
Luis de la Cruz y Ríos, Painter
Luis Doreste, Sailor, Yacht Racer, World Champion and Olympic Champion
Luis Millares Cubas, Novelist and Playwright
Luis Morote y Greus, Lawyer, Journalist and Politician
Luján Pérez, Jose Miguel, Sculptor and Architect
Maninidra, Pre-Hispanic Warrior
Manolo Blahnik, Fashion Designer
Manolo Hussein, Professional Basketball Coach
Manolo Millares, Painter
Manolo Vieira, Comedian
Manuel de León y Falcón, Painter
Manuel Mora Morales, Writer and Filmmaker
Manuel Verdugo y Albiturria, María Montez, Actress, Hollywood «Queen of Technicolor»
Mary Sánchez, Grammy nominated Folk and Bolero Singer
Miguel de Rosa, Nancy Fabiola Herrera, Mezzo-soprano Opera Singer
Narciso Rodriguez, American Fashion Designer born to Cuban parents with Canarian origins
Néstor Martín Fernández de la Torre, Nicolás Estévanez Murphy, Politician
Nicolás Massieu Matos, Painter
Olga Cerpa, Singer
Óscar Domínguez, Painter
Paulino Rivero,, Politician and Teacher, President of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands
Pedro Agustín del Castillo, Treatise Writer who played a pioneering role in town planning and fortification
Pedro Bravo de Laguna y Joven, Pedro de Vera, Pedro García Cabrera, Poet
Pedro José Gordillo Ramos, Pedro Guerra, Music Composer and Singer
Pedro Rodríguez Ledesma, Professional Footballer
Pedro Zerolo, LGBT Rights Activist, Lawyer and Politician
Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur
Pily Nieblas, Singer-songwriter and Painter
Princesa Guayarmina, Prudencio Morales y Martínez de Escobar, Rafael Arozarena, Writer
Rafael González, Rafael Mesa y López, Rafael Ramírez Doreste, Rafael Romero ‘Alonso Quesada’
Renato Verneau, Rosana Arbelo, Singer
Rosanna Walls, Actress
Ruslan Ela, Soccer player
Sabino de Berthelot, Salvador Cuyás, Salvador González de Torres y Real, San Diego de Alcalá, Religious Person
Santiago Tejera Ossavarry, Sara Da Pin Up, Hip Hop Artist
Sebastián Suárez Naranjo, Sergio Rodríguez, NBA Basketball Player
Tanausu, Pre-Hispanic King of Aceró
Teófilo Martínez de Escobar, Peligious Person
Tinguaro, Pre-Hispanic warrior General
Tomás Miller Wilson, Merchant, Trader and Politician
Tomás Morales, Poet
Tomás Quevedo Ramírez, Lawyer and Politician
Valentín Sanz y Carta, Painter
Ventura Ramírez Doreste, Vicente Llorente y Matos, Doctor
Vicente Ruano y Urquía, Physician
Víctor Grau y Bassas, Scientist, Doctor and Researcher
Wenceslao Benítez Inglott, Military Official, Sailor and Engineer