La Villita, San Antonio

La Villita, the "little village," is nestled on the east bank of the River Walk. Although just off a bustling pedestrian area, La Villita has a different atmosphere, with an emphasis on history and art. Many of the historic structures now house artisans and craftspeople.

Dating back to the days when the Alamo served as a military outpost, La Villita developed as a temporary village of squatters, people without land title. These tradesmen, camp followers, and Spanish soldiers and their families made their home near the Alamo, living in primitive huts.

For years, La Villita remained a temporary settlement until a disastrous flood in 1821. The San Antonio River rose and demolished much of the west bank, but La Villita with its slightly higher elevation was spared.Locals began to look at the "little village" as a the place to be on the river, and soon the temporary huts were replaced with more permanent structures of adobe and stone.

La Villita came to historic prominence during the Texas Revolution when Mexican troopers were defeated after the storming of Bexar. The surrender was signed at the Cos House in the neighborhood. After Texas then became a state, La Villita became a neighborhood of recent immigrants. The look of the neighborhood changed from Spanish adobe to European-style limestone blocks.

Within 50 years, though, La Villita hit bottom, reduced to a collection of boarding houses and bathhouses on the river's edge. Water was hauled from the river and sold for a quarter a barrel. The region became a virtual slum. It remained one of the worst areas in the city until 1939. As the city turned its attention to the river, planners realized that La Villita was long due a renovation. The National Youth Administration and the city began an extensive program of renovation and re-creation. Today this is a National Historic District, filled with structures that recall Texas's early days.

The historic buildings now house artisans and craftsmen at work on everything from fine hand-blown glass to woven shawls. You'll find Latin American imports, from tin art to Indian rugs, sold alongside the creations of San Antonio artists. This artists' community nestles between San Antonio's tallest structure and the age-old river. One square block in size, it has retained an air of separateness from the River Walk, a place for people to shop for fine souvenirs in a collection of buildings whose styles hark back to the days of Old San Antonio. Today the area is one of the top shopping districts in the city; most shops are open 10 AM to 6 PM daily.

Admission to La Villita is free.

Location: 418 Villita, along the River Walk

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