The Alamo Mission Fortress is the main historical symbol of the city and the most important landmark of Texas. The history of this outstanding structure is very unusual. It is the former Mission San Antonio de Valero . The construction of the Catholic mission started in 1744, shortly after the foundation of the new city by Spanish settlers. A noteworthy fact - the mission was not completed. At the end of the 18th century, it became fully desolated. In the early 19th century, the building was converted into the barracks for the Mexican soldiers. The fortress was used as barracks until 1835. It is believed that it were Mexican soldiers who gave the building a new name. For a long time, the building served various military purposes, but it was seriously damaged during hostilities. The rebuilding works started in 1912. Today, the partially restored mission is the main symbol of Texas independence.
The picturesque promenade of San Antonio River Walk is another prominent attraction of the city. It stretches along the San Antonio River and remains the most popular tourist district. The coastline is almost completely given to pedestrians. Many popular hotels, restaurants, trendy boutiques, and nightclubs are open in this part of the city. As a rule, travelers enjoy making a stroll on the promenade in the evening, when original artistic lighting illuminates the waterfront. It is also worth noting that there are several important cultural centers close to the coastline, including the La Villita Historic Arts Village and the Arneson River Theater . The construction of the waterfront began in 1939. Nowadays, its length is almost 5 kilometers.
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