Two horizontal bands – blue on top, red below – separated by a white band. At the center, a white six-pointed star and the silhouette of the Alamo. San Antonio's flag is elegant in its simplicity: it says the essential – this city is Texan, and it carries the Alamo.
San Antonio is one of the oldest cities in what is now the United States. Founded in 1718 as a Spanish mission – San Antonio de Béxar – it was for more than a century the capital of the Spanish province of Texas. Five Franciscan missions, built along the San Antonio River, are today inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
189 defenders, including Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, held out for 13 days against 1,800 Mexican soldiers before being massacred. "Remember the Alamo" became the war cry that led Texas to independence and then to annexation by the United States.
San Antonio is also the most explicitly Latino American city. Founded by Spanish settlers, populated by Mexicans and Tejanos, it is a metropolis where 63% of residents are Hispanic. The River Walk – a pedestrian promenade along the San Antonio River – is a public space that blends colonial heritage and contemporary culture. The blue, white and red flag mixes the colors of Texas with a palette that evokes the Spanish and French origins of the region.