The great extension of the south and southeast of Gran Canaria that was the scene of great battles during the conquest was not always divided into two municipalities as it is today.
Tirajana, that large region in the southern area of Gran Canaria, with a complex morphology that includes a large depression known as the Caldera de Tirajana, was very different on a territorial level from what it is today. In ancient times, this vast region had well-defined limits: to the north, the summit of Tejeda; to the east, the Episcopal Lordship of Agüimes; to the south, the sea; and to the west, the territory of Mogán. However, in the XNUMXth century, this extensive region was divided into two municipalities: San Bartolomé and Santa Lucía, both with the surname of Tirajana, the first being the largest on the entire island and maintaining this delimitation to the present day.
The Tirajana region is full of place names that bear its name, such as the Tirajana Caldera, an immense depression of about 35 km² formed by successive volcanological processes over millions of years. Other emblematic places are the Barranco de Tirajana, which extends from the Taidía region to the sea, separating the municipalities of Santa Lucía and San Bartolomé de Tirajana.
Historically, the Tirajanas region was one of the most isolated areas of Gran Canaria due to its rugged terrain and communication difficulties with the rest of the island, especially the capital. Travelers from the past recount the difficulties and dangers of entering this territory, where roads and trails crossed unprotected cliffs. Despite its isolation, Tirajana was a region inhabited and practiced by the Canarian aborigines, and its rich history is reflected in the archaeological remains and place names that survive to this day.
The origin of the name Tirajana has been the subject of debate and speculation. Various interpretations have been proposed, from a possible relationship with a term in Berber that means "any valley, large or small, with or without water", to local legends that associate it with a giant and his giantess daughter who threw stones at the conquerors. Spanish people. Although its definitive etymology has not yet been clarified, the name Tirajana evokes a historical landscape of contrasts, a land marked by geology, aboriginal culture and the Spanish conquest.
Today, Tirajana remains a region of great interest to students of Canarian history and archaeology, and a visit to this land of impressive landscapes is an opportunity to connect with the past and the unique nature of Gran Canaria.
