La Laguna to Host Special 'Heritage Nights' Event on September 18-19
La Laguna will host its "Heritage Nights" event on September 18 and 19, featuring guided tours, exclusive access to historic sites, and contemporary artistic performances to celebrate the city's unique cultural identity.
La Laguna is gearing up for a special edition of "Heritage Nights," an event coordinated by the Group of World Heritage Cities of Spain. This year, the Tenerife municipality has decided to hold its celebrations on September 18 and 19, separate from the other 14 cities in the network. Municipal officials confirmed that this change avoids a scheduling conflict with the Cristo Festivals, ensuring that both events can be enjoyed fully by the local community.
La Laguna, which has held UNESCO World Heritage status since 1999, has built its program around three main themes: historical education, access to restricted spaces, and contemporary art. Adolfo Cordobés, the Councilor for Cultural Heritage, explained that the program aims to highlight the city’s unique Atlantic identity, turning the historic urban center into a living stage. Estefanía Díaz, the Councilor for Tourism, added that the goal is to move beyond simply preserving monuments and instead encourage active engagement with the city's history.
The schedule features a wide range of performances and artistic projects. On Friday the 18th, the international group of artists from Chile and Peru, Pseudónimo Cía. and CRUDO Colectivo, will perform "Mineral Blood" at Drago Park. The piece uses geophone technology to turn body movements into sound. On Saturday the 19th, artist Yapci Ramos will present "Monumenta Performance" at the Plaza de La Concepción, a work that blends aboriginal iconography with modern dance.
The event also offers plenty of opportunities to learn about the city’s past. Local experts and members of the Tenerife APIT will lead 16 guided tours, each limited to 30 people, focusing on the city's architectural history. Additionally, the "Open Heritage" initiative will grant the public rare access to usually closed areas, such as the towers and choirs of the Convent of Santa Clara de Asís, the Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, and the Instituto de Canarias-Cabrera Pinto.
The program concludes with the presentation of the catalog "Lagunear. Memory and Transformation" at the Leal Theater, which documents five centuries of art in the Canary Islands. By combining these academic and artistic activities, La Laguna continues its mission to balance the preservation of its historic legacy with a vibrant, modern cultural life.