Coinciding with Canary Islands Day, San Antonio hosts an official reception for UD Las Palmas to mark the 50th anniversary of its twinning with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

The institutional event, organized by the San Antonio City Council in collaboration with San Antonio FC, marks a cultural and sporting milestone, as UD Las Palmas becomes the first Spanish team to play a match in the city. The match, which will take place this Saturday at Toyota Field, is part of a sports diplomacy tour aimed at strengthening bilateral relations in institutional, educational, and cultural areas.

The Canary Islands delegation was joined by prominent local officials and members of the Hispanic community, including Ron Nirenberg, Mayor of San Antonio; Steve Chiscano, Honorary Consul of Spain in San Antonio; Shahrzad Dowlatshahi, Chief Diplomacy & Protocol Officer of the City; Julia López, President of the Canary Islands Descendants Association (CIDA); Mari Tamez, Bexar Heritage Outreach Manager, and José Lizardo, Senior Director of Toyota Field & STAR Complex – San Antonio FC.

Institutional Route and Heritage Visit

The day began with a guided tour of three key landmarks in the city’s history: the Founders Monument, honoring the founding communities of San Antonio—Native Americans, Franciscan friars, presidio soldiers, and Canary Island settlers; the San Fernando Cathedral, seat of the Archdiocese of San Antonio and symbol of the founding religious legacy; and the Spanish Governor’s Palace, the last visible remnant of the former Presidio San Antonio de Béxar and an example of 18th-century Spanish civil architecture.

The tour concluded with an official reception at Plaza de las Islas Canarias, featuring an institutional meeting with representatives of the Canary community in San Antonio and refreshments courtesy of CIDA.

Closing at the Bexar County Heritage Center

Later, the delegation moved to the Bexar County Heritage Center, located in the historic County Courthouse. There, the Canary Islands representatives were welcomed by Mari Tamez, who gave a presentation on the shared heritage between Texas and the Canary Islands, highlighting the role of islanders in founding the municipality of San Fernando de Béxar and their influence on the region’s institutional, economic, and cultural development.

This event, beyond strengthening historical ties, reflects both cities’ desire to build new avenues for cultural, sporting, and educational collaboration, emphasizing a shared identity that spans centuries.