The side façade of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Remedies was illuminated on Saturday with an audiovisual show that transformed the monument into a cultural stage open to residents and visitors. Starting at 7:30 p.m. and lasting for more than two hours, with several consecutive showings, the projection narrated five centuries of the city’s history and put the finishing touch on the programme commemorating the 25th anniversary of La Laguna’s declaration as a World Heritage City.

The event turned stone into a living story, showing the architectural evolution of the Cathedral and celebrating La Laguna’s status as the only city in the Canary Islands to have this UNESCO recognition. The audiovisual and narrative proposal, promoted by the Department of Cultural Heritage in collaboration with the Diocese of Nivariense, celebrated the exceptional universal value of La Laguna as a unique urban model, a laboratory for American cities and a paradigm of Renaissance utopia.

The Councillor for Cultural Heritage, Adolfo Cordobés, stated that, “tonight, this important monument has become a canvas of light and sound to tell the story of our city’s evolution and talk about our identity and the cultural strength that sets us apart. This video mapping, one of the special events of the 25th anniversary, which was postponed for a few days due to weather conditions, has allowed us to relive more than half a millennium of history in an innovative and exciting way.”

The initiative redefined the Cathedral as a dynamic symbol of the city, creating an accessible and emotional narrative that sought to educate and raise awareness about the importance of heritage, as well as exemplifying the municipal commitment to integrating digital creativity and applying emerging technologies to heritage dissemination.

‘This unique show has demonstrated how tradition and innovation go hand in hand to keep our heritage alive. La Laguna celebrates its past, but also looks to the future with new technologies that help us to disseminate and value who we are,’ added Cordobés.

The projection reviewed everything from the founding of La Laguna as the first city of peace in the Modern Age to the architectural evolution of the Cathedral, highlighting its status as a symbol of the overlapping of styles and techniques. The large turnout and warm reception confirmed the success of an event that synthesised the essence of a year of celebrations.

The programme commemorating the 25th anniversary of the declaration of La Laguna as a World Heritage City is financially supported by the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of Tenerife. Some of the exhibition proposals will be open to visitors for several weeks. Details of these activities can be found on the official anniversary website at https://25aniversario.aytolalaguna.es/.