She was built in Spain by the Vickers-Armstrongs subsidiary Sociedad Española de Construcción Naval based on a British design, being a modified version of the Royal Navy′s County class.

Canarias was the main player of the Battle of Cape Machichaco on 5 March 1937, when the Basque Auxiliary Navy naval trawler Nabarra was destroyed.

[2] She also damaged the destroyer José Luis Díez, forcing her to seek refuge at Gibraltar on 29 August 1938.

[3] The cruiser remained in commission (due to several repair and refit periods) as the fleet flagship throughout her career.

A major refit was planned for Canarias around 1973 to further extend the vessel's life, but a survey of her condition (conducted with help of US Navy personnel) concluded she was too old and obsolete to warrant the work.