Shopping in La Villita

If you're shopping for arts and crafts, check out La Villita, an historic area along the River Walk that's dedicated to crafts.

A favorite tourist shopping destination thanks to its proximity to the River Walk and its many unique shops, La Villita has an extensive history. Here the first houses were built by the Spanish after they founding the area. The earliest house here was built about 1722; this area was also where General Cos of the Mexican Army surrendered his army in 1835 and ceded independence to the colonizing Texans, an emancipation soon revoked by Mexican President Santa Anna by his attack on the nearby Alamo.

Over the years, La Villita fell into disrepair as the town grew in other directions until 1939 when a city ordinance called for its restoration. It reopened as a center for crafts and recreation as part of the National Youth Administration and as a repository for the preservation of San Antonio's unique culture. In 1972, some 27 structures were designated by the National Register of Historic Places.

Each year, La Villita is home to one of the city's biggest celebrations, Night in Old San Antonio, part of April’s Fiesta. During the day, the picturesque area is filled with shoppers looking for handcrafts, artworks, and other craft items.

Location: downtown along the River Walk; bounded by South Alamo, East Nuevo, South Presa, and River Walk

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