San Sebastián de La Gomera, a stroll through history

Arriving in the port of San Sebastián de La Gomera means you are landing in the capital of La Gomera, which can be reached on foot from the dock in under ten minutes. Located in the west of La Gomera, San Sebastián de La Gomera is a village that offers locals and visitors a host of different places, with a variety of characteristics. On this route, you will be able to explore different historical and cultural icons of the capital on your own, on foot, as well as key sites where you can enjoy the local gastronomy and a day of shopping, all in the town Christopher Columbus set off from to conquer the Americas.

Market of San Sebastián de la Gomera, the first stop after leaving the cruise ship

You can start the day by taking a short walk from to dock to the Municipal Market of San Sebastián de La Gomera. Located in Avenida de Colón, this is a small market where you can enjoy an aperitif or acquire gastronomy products typical of La Gomera such as almogrote, a paste made with hard cheese, pepper, garlic and olive oil, or palm honey, made using sugarcane juice, palm tree sap subjected to a cooking process at a certain temperature which eventually yields a paste similar to bees’ honey, but with a totally different, singular flavour.

A cruise to discover the history of La Gomera: La Torre del Conde

In the Torre del Conde park, very close to the port, stands a historic monument which is the symbol of San Sebastián de La Gomera and the most recognizable of the island’s emblems - Torre del Conde, a former military fortress constructed in the 15th century. Visitors can sign up on-site for guided tours around the park and the interior of the Torre del Conde, and find out everything about the history of this emblematic building, which is certain to delight Gothic architecture enthusiasts.

Church of La Asunción, religious and cultural visit near the cruise ship

The church of La Asunción is another focus of cultural interest and an essential visit in San Sebastián de La Gomera. A mixture of different architectural styles makes this building emblematic, not only for its architecture, but also for what it represents. A construction that has managed to survive despite being attacked on numerous occasions throughout history, by the English and by North African pirates. Every five years this church welcomes the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron of La Gomera, in what is the island’s most important festival, the Fiestas Lustrales de La Gomera, one of the most popular fiestas of the Canary Islands.

Last shopping on the way back to the ship

On leaving the church of La Asunción, and before returning to your cruise ship, what could be better than strolling down Calle Real, the pedestrian area in San Sebastián de La Gomera which starts at the church square. You can stroll peacefully all the way down on foot until reaching the end, the seafront promenade. All along the way, as you walk you will find a wide variety of shops where you can acquire clothes, jewellery, photographs, gifts and in general, different options for buying various souvenirs and articles. Enjoy shopping as you wander through the capital of La Gomera in a friendly, lively atmosphere.

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Map of San Sebastián de La Gomera, a stroll through history

Sustainability

- Never leave waste of any type lying around, including cigarette butts. Leftover food leads to a proliferation of rats and wild cats, which pose a serious threat to the fauna.
- Use the waste- paper baskets and, insofar as possible, separate and place your recycling waste in the appropriate containers.
- Do not throw any waste or other objects into the sea.
- Respect the animals. Do not bother them or feed them. If you see an injured specimen, you can call the emergency number: 112. Do not pick flowers or plants.
- Do not pick up or take away stones or any other item from the natural environment. And do not move them to pile them up into sadly famous 'towers'.
- In natural spaces and at viewpoints, do not leave the trail or the spaces designated for people to be in.
- Respect and look after the area's historic and cultural heritage, along with the public furniture and items for visitors, such as information panels or telescopes and binoculars.