The historic centre will transform into an open-air stage this Saturday (13th September), featuring contemporary dance, live music, traditions, audiovisual memory, and guided tours of iconic buildings.
The City Council of La Laguna has today unveiled the official programme for La Noche del Patrimonio 2025 (LNDP), a cultural event taking place this Saturday (13th September) in the city’s historic centre, simultaneously across 15 World Heritage Cities in Spain. This eighth edition is particularly significant as it coincides with the Fiestas de El Cristo and the 25th anniversary of La Laguna’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage City, a recognition that has shaped the city’s recent history and will be prominently featured in a diverse, free, and accessible programme for all citizens this Saturday.
The launch event, held at the Casa de los Capitanes, included speeches from La Laguna’s mayor, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez; the councillor for Cultural Heritage, Adolfo Cordobés; and the councillor for Festivities, Dailos González, who were joined by various artistic and heritage initiative leaders featured in the programme.
These included Ángel Pérez Quintero, director of the documentary “San Benito. Unknown heritage, between history, plagues, and traditions” and honorary consul of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Canary Islands; filmmaker and director of the audiovisual project Colecta Memoria, Dailo Barco; and the guides of “La Laguna: A heritage of heights”, along with representatives from Localiando, Luzbel Armas and Elisa Falcón.
The mayor recalled that La Noche del Patrimonio is celebrated in La Laguna “with a special intensity, coinciding with very important local events, and allows us to link local tradition with an internationally focused event—a chance to showcase our city as a cultural and heritage management leader.”
Luis Yeray Gutiérrez emphasised that this year’s programme will highlight the values defended by a city that “is more than just a historic ensemble; it has been recognised as a bridge between continents, a synthesis of cultures, and a living expression of coexistence, sustainability, and respect for memory. La Noche del Patrimonio aims to embody this vision from a cultural standpoint, opening our streets, squares, convents, churches, and stately homes so that art, tradition, and history converse with the citizens.”
Various Expressions to Interpret Heritage
The event will thus allow for the interpretation of the historic city through multiple expressions, such as contemporary dance, traditional music, intangible heritage, audiovisual expression, and the art and history of its most iconic monuments, inviting the public to rediscover the only World Heritage City in the Canary Islands.
Councillor for Cultural Heritage, Adolfo Cordobés, explained the details of a programme “diverse, free, and accessible—a reflection of the inclusive vocation represented by the city showcasing the best of our identity, such as tradition, innovation, civic participation, and artistic excellence, confirming that heritage is not just what we inherit, but what we build together.”
Regarding the link between La Noche del Patrimonio and the Fiestas del Cristo, Dailos González remarked that “this collaboration not only enriches both celebrations but also solidifies a shared vision where tradition and contemporary culture can coexist, engage in dialogue, and mutually reinforce one another.”
The programme is divided into several sections shared by the Network of World Heritage Cities in Spain, organised under the titles Escena Patrimonio, Patrimonio Abierto, and Vive el Patrimonio. Activities will begin at 18:30 and last until nearly midnight, while La Laguna will enhance the event with engaging dance aperitifs from midday.
Carlos Carvento Highlights Escena Patrimonio
Indeed, one of the cornerstones of this eighth edition of LNDP will be contemporary dance, showcasing performances where the body becomes an expression of heritage. The main performance in La Laguna for the Escena Patrimonio section—the central programme across all cities in the network—will be “Añil,” by Carlos Carvento. La Laguna thus welcomes a groundbreaking artist with a unique and inclusive offering chosen as the visual identity of the overall Escena Patrimonio campaign across all cities.
Additionally, Carlos Carvento will enhance his collaboration with La Laguna by leading the workshop “Expanded Body: Presence, Gesture, and Artifice” this Friday (12th September) at Casa Anchieta—a unique and free masterclass with limited seating, providing an exceptional opportunity to access the expressive knowledge of this important artist.
This artistic section of the programme will be bolstered by a parallel programme directed by professional dancer Raúl Rugarcía, a teacher at the TAI School of Arts and choreography assistant for Aitana. Companies such as ARTA Company, DUAL, and La Basal will traverse the historic centre, transforming it into a living stage.
From the piece BIO.ME, at 12:00 in Casa Anchieta, to a staged route beginning at Plaza del Adelantado at 17:00 and concluding at Plaza Hermano Ramón, these works will not only draw inspiration from the heritage space but also transform and redefine it.
Patrimonio Vivo: A Journey through Audiovisual Memory, Music, and Traditions
Among the innovations of this year’s edition of La Noche del Patrimonio, La Laguna introduces a section dedicated to Audiovisual Memory, featuring two significant proposals.
Firstly, the documentary “San Benito. Unknown heritage, between history, plagues, and traditions,” directed by Ángel Pérez Quintero, will premiere. This film will be screened at the chapel at 18:30, reminding us that heritage is not always visible, and that there are stories worth telling.
Another highlighted innovation will be the Colecta Memoria project, directed by filmmaker Dailo Barco. This initiative aims to recover local audiovisual heritage, documenting the evolution of La Laguna between 1926 and 1976. These images, extracted from both professional and amateur films after an extensive effort across various archives, allow for a reconstruction of daily life, customs, and historical events of the 20th century, all from an intimate and authentic perspective.
This action, initiated last July, has been strengthened by a tour of seven community centres to share these film archives with local residents and establish connections with individuals who preserve domestic archives. All this aims to preserve our collective memory and access private holdings and unpublished materials not listed in official records, which will be digitised to ensure the longevity of this heritage, in line with UNESCO’s recommendations.
Colecta Memoria will offer two screenings this Saturday at Casa Anchieta, at 19:00 and 21:00. In addition to showcasing a comprehensive collection of these historical images, a video will premiere showcasing Colecta Memoria’s journey through community centres and the impressions of participants involved in this innovative initiative.
Moreover, local traditions and music will play a significant role in La Noche del Patrimonio, with parades through the historic streets and concerts extending celebrations to Plaza del Cristo. Under the title Night of Traditions, the Pandorga parade, fire horses, giants, and big heads will connect attendees with Corpus festivities and the childhood memories of generations.
Performances by Achamán and Pieles, alongside artists such as Domingo Rodríguez “El Colorado” and Ayla Rodríguez, will offer a night filled with roots, Canarian percussion, and collective emotion, uniting heritage with festive culture.
Patrimonio Abierto: An Opportunity to Explore Hidden Spaces
Another central action of this Noche del Patrimonio will be “La Laguna: A Heritage of Heights,” giving visitors the opportunity to explore emblematic heritage sites at night, guided by experts. This section will offer three different tours, each with three time slots and limited capacity, at the Museo de Arte Sacro de Santa Clara, the church and former convent of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, and the Instituto de Canarias Cabrera Pinto.
This initiative will, therefore, provide insight into three historically significant buildings with the unique opportunity to access some more exclusive areas, generally restricted to the public. Guided tours will commence at 20:00, 21:00, and 22:00 at the three locations, with admissions being allocated on a first-come, first-served basis without prior registration.
Interested individuals should gather approximately 15 minutes before each tour starts at the designated meeting points: the door of the church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, the entrance of the Instituto de Canarias Cabrera Pinto, and the entrance to the Museo de Arte Sacro at the convent of Santa Clara. As access will be granted to locations usually closed to the public, not all spaces will be accessible for those with reduced mobility.
International Projection
La Noche del Patrimonio is not just a cultural event; it is a declaration of intentions and a shared commitment among the 15 World Heritage Cities in Spain. Its simultaneous nature makes this initiative a unique cultural network in Europe, positioning heritage as a cornerstone of sustainable development and social cohesion.
This event serves as a strategic tool for promoting tourism and culture. The national and international visibility it achieves contributes to establishing La Laguna as a cultural reference point, integrating its heritage into contemporary dynamics of creation and participation.
Each activity, from contemporary dance to the recovery of audiovisual memory, is designed not only for local enjoyment but also to be integrated into a global discourse of preservation and cultural dynamism, connecting La Laguna with a broader audience and solidifying its place in the contemporary artistic landscape.
Additionally, the cultural dimension of the programme transcends mere celebration, generating networks of collaboration among institutions, artists, and the public. It also promotes innovation while respecting tradition, transforming La Laguna into a living laboratory for heritage management.
For more information and the complete programme, visit: lanochedelpatrimonio.com and 25aniversario.aytolalaguna.es
https://lalagunaahora.com/category/san-cristobal-de-la-laguna-25-anos-patrimonio-mundial/
