LA VILLITA:
La Villita is credited as San Antonio’s first neighborhood. It was originally a settlement of primitive huts for the Spanish soldiers stationed at the Mission San Antonio Valero (the Alamo). After a flood in 1819, brick, stone and adobe houses replaced the earlier structures. In 1836, La Villita was the site of General Santa Anna’s cannon line, in the Battle of the Alamo, and a map from early that year showed the village to be of considerable size.
Late in the 19th century, European immigrants from Germany and France moved into the area. These pioneers became San Antonio’s business leaders, bankers, educators, and craftsmen. The cultural mix that occurred at this time is best illustrated by the variety of architectural styles reflected in La Villita’s buildings. The architecture portrays the evolution of buildings from palisado to Victorian Houses. In 1939, as ground broke on the San Antonio River Walk development, city fathers, led by Mayor Maury Maverick, acted to preserve this colorful part of San Antonio’s history. Today, La Villita is a thriving art park, in the midst of San Antonio’s bustling downtown, that stands as a monument to San Antonio’s past and an icon of growth for the future.
Located at 418 Villita Street on the south bank of the San Antonio River, La Villita is a thriving Artisan community with over 30 boutique shops, galleries, and restaurants. La Villita is surrounded by five interconnected plazas for outdoor events, such as weddings, cultural festivals, private parties, corporate celebrations and much more, hosting over approx. 200 events a year. Also included in La Villita, is the world-famous Arneson River Theatre, where Fiesta Noche del Rio performs, as well as many other cultural concerts, performances, plays, and wedding ceremonies.
GEOCACHING EXPERIENCE:
The Village is accessible from 7:00AM - 8:00PM daily, with boutiques open from 10AM -6PM Monday-Saturday and 11AM - 4PM on Sunday.