Valle de Guerra to Reenact Lepanto Battle with "Librea Autosacramental"
Valle de Guerra in La Laguna will host its annual "Librea autosacramental" on October 18th, a historical reenactment of the Battle of Lepanto featuring new scenes, characters, and elaborate costumes, celebrating local cultural heritage and involving around 250 participants.
This Saturday, October 18th, Valle de Guerra in La Laguna will once again host the "Librea autosacramental" at 9:00 p.m. This event commemorates the important Battle of Lepanto in 1571. Soldiers from the Canary Islands, led by Captain Francisco Díaz Pimienta from La Palma, played a key role in this battle, as shown in documents kept at the Church of El Salvador in Santa Cruz de La Palma.
Guillermo López, head of the Association of Friends of the Librea of Valle de Guerra, says they add new scenes and characters each year while staying true to the historical story. He also mentions that the Librea continues thanks to the young people of Valle de Guerra, as the association has successfully shared their cultural identity in local schools. This year, they've brought back the scene featuring Marco Antonio Bragadin and introduced new female characters, including Nurbanu and two Venetian courtesans.
Alicia Díaz Barbuzano is in charge of designing the castle set and this year's poster. The costumes, which accurately depict the clothing of the time, are created by Alexis González, Encarna Reyes, and Juani Hernández, with advice from Burka Teatro.
The Librea is a highly anticipated event for the people of Valle de Guerra and those who appreciate this tradition. It's based on a popular religious play performed as a parade, dedicated to the Virgen del Rosario, the town's patron saint. Over time, it has evolved into a theatrical performance with live music.
Around 250 people participate each year, with 102 actors playing different characters. Approximately 2,500 spectators are expected to attend the live performance. There will be 1,200 chairs and 15 spaces for people with limited mobility. The play will be broadcast live on the La Laguna City Council's Facebook page and later available on demand on Canal 4 and Ahora TV.
The first part of the Librea took place on October 7th, featuring a procession of the Virgen de El Rosario, accompanied by a boat and a squadron.
The Librea has received several awards, including being declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 2007, the international CICOP award for Intangible Cultural Heritage, an award from the Center of Tourist Initiatives, and the Amazigh award for best cultural event. Since June 2021, it has been recognized by the Ministry of Culture as part of Spain's Intangible Heritage Platform.
The Librea de Valle de Guerra is supported by the Culture, Historical Heritage, and Tourism departments of the La Laguna City Council, the Culture department of the Cabildo de Tenerife, the Social Work of the La Caixa Foundation, and contributions from members of the Association of Friends of the Librea de Valle de Guerra.