The City Council of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, through its Cultural Heritage Department, launched yesterday (13 August) the programme La Laguna a Pie: Rutas de Barrio (La Laguna on Foot: Neighbourhood Routes), an initiative that, through free guided tours, seeks to bring citizens closer to the history, heritage and identity of the towns and neighbourhoods of the municipality. The first of the 15 planned activities took place in Barrio Nuevo and Gracia with dozens of people of different ages, both residents and visitors interested in discovering their heritage value, endorsing a novel project that has already filled the available places for the next sessions and has a waiting list that reflects the growing interest in this type of cultural and local activity.

The itinerary included stops at emblematic sites in both neighbourhoods, with explanations provided by the tour guide and expert in local history and heritage, Hortensia Ayala, who detailed the urban evolution, traditional architecture, popular customs and the role of these neighbourhoods in the development of La Laguna. In addition to historical information, the tour was enriched with neighbourhood anecdotes and testimonies that helped to recreate the daily life of other eras.

‘The response from the public has been extraordinary. This first route confirms that people want to learn about, appreciate and enjoy their immediate surroundings. Barrio Nuevo and Gracia are examples of the rich heritage and culture that we have in every corner of La Laguna, and these routes are an opportunity to reinforce our pride in belonging and caring for our legacy,’ said Adolfo Cordobés, Councillor for Cultural Heritage.

Cordobés explained that the project is part of the municipal strategy to decentralise the dissemination of local heritage, bringing quality activities to all neighbourhoods and encouraging neighbourhood participation. ‘It’s not just about visiting beautiful or historic places, but about creating links between people and their own territory. With these routes, we hope that heritage will be perceived as something alive, useful and close to home, which is part of people’s identity and everyday life,’ added the councillor.

For his part, Lucas Morales, academic director of the Ciudades a Pie project, noted that the programme will continue throughout August and September, with new tours of Barrio Nuevo and Gracia, as well as San Miguel de Geneto and Valle de Guerra. ‘Each of the 15 planned routes, five per destination, has a limited number of places to ensure the quality of the experience and personalised attention, with a total forecast of almost 500 participants. Given the high volume of applications, we have set up a waiting list with which we hope to reach as many people as possible,’ said Morales.

About the programme

La Laguna a Pie: Rutas de Barrio (La Laguna on Foot: Neighbourhood Routes), conceived as a series of themed itineraries, combines historical dissemination with the active participation of the community and local gastronomy, all with the aim of creating spaces for encounter and dialogue between specialists and residents.

Each tour addresses aspects such as the origin of the neighbourhood, the evolution of its urban layout, unique buildings, popular traditions and their role in the collective memory. All this is done with an educational and accessible approach, which aims to ensure that anyone, regardless of their prior knowledge, can enjoy and learn about their surroundings.

In addition, each of the three routes features posters illustrated by Canarian artist Eduardo González and a logo designed by Ana Arocas, while the company Don Globoso will offer activities to liven up the itineraries, led by Yanet Rodríguez. Commemorative postcards for the attending public, promotional audiovisual material and an official website with all the information are also included, www.lalagunaapie.es

The project is part of the municipal strategy for the protection, dissemination and enhancement of cultural heritage, with special attention to those elements that are less well known but of great relevance to the identity of La Laguna.