Visit the Virgin of Candelaria, popularly called La Morenita, Patroness of the Canary Islands at San Fernando Cathedral. This retablo was a gift from former President of the Canary Islands, Manuel Hermoso and is a testament to the strong historic ties between San Antonio and the Canary Islands.

The story goes back to the founding days of San Antonio when a statue of the Virgen de Candelaria, the patron saint of the Canary Islands, was carried by the original settlers in 1731 as they trekked by foot from Veracruz to what is now San Antonio. A replica of the statue of the Virgen was gifted to San Fernando by the former President of the Canary Islands, Spain, Manuel Hermoso.

San Antonio maintains ties with the Canary Islands through both the Canary Islands Descendants Association and two Sister Cities: Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. To learn more about San Antonio’s Sister, Friendship, and Partner City relationships, visit www.sanantonio.gov/iro.