Gran Canaria is referred to as the small continent because of its extremely varied landscapes with European, African and even American vegetation. Hardly anywhere else you can find such different landscapes and even climatical zones being geographically that close one to each other: mountain massives, desert land, tropical forrests, ... The capital is Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, with its highly original and individual architecture showing influences of all five continents, and its colorfully painted houses. One of the city's attractions is its architecture, highlighted by such places as the Cathedral and the Archiepiscopal Palais. Also here is La Casa de Colón, the House of Columbus, and the Museo Canario, the Canarian Museum, which shows the most complete exposition you may find about the islands' original inhabitants, the Guanches.