A Swedish legacy in the south of Gran Canaria

 

 

 

Gunnar Suneson, founder of the iconic restaurant Loopy's in San Agustín, and recognized promoter and key player in the Swedish colony settled in the south of Gran Canaria, died last week at the age of 80. The news fell like a bucket of cold water in the tourism sector in the south of Gran Canaria, where Gunnar was quite well known and very loved after years linked to the sector.

 

Suneson was one of the pioneers to settle in the Swedish colony in the south of Gran Canaria, serving almost as a guide for all his compatriots who visited the island and decided to stay there. In 1972, he decided to open Loopy's in San Agustín with Lewis Turner. The Swedish community has great relevance in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, almost a thousand Swedes live in the municipality and, as such, have left their mark on the customs of the municipality, such as with the celebration of Swedish Week, organized by the Scandinavian Club of the municipality. . A few days in which they celebrate various activities such as gastronomic routes or hiking. The Swedish community also has its own sculpture in the municipality; the Dalahäteri Horse (Dalecarlia), a work made in bronze by the Hungarian artist Marta von Poroszlay, a gift from the Swedish community in 2012 as a symbol of cultural unity.

 

 

Together with his wife, Suneson decided to give personality to the place, turning the place into a unique and unmistakable place in the south of the island. Over the years, as the Loopy's brand became established not only among tourists, but also among local residents, the Sunesons decided to expand the business and open a location in the iconic Red House, located on the Paseo de Las Canteras beach.

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to his successful business career, Suneson was passionate about golf and made a name for himself in the world of this sport on the islands by participating in various tournaments throughout the archipelago.

 

His legacy as a businessman and his contribution to the Swedish community in the south of Gran Canaria will be remembered by many.

 

 

View and download Sweden's Peak Route

 

This is the standard route to Sweden's "mythical" peak of St. Augustine.

It goes from about 20 m to more than 700 in the 8 km you have to walk to reach the peak.