San Antonio: the Alamo and the river below the city

Site of Texas's most celebrated battle, San Antonio hides below street level a second downtown built along the meanders of its own river.

The River Walk is easily walked on foot; the center above street level requires more movement.

The Alamo, a former Spanish mission turned fortress, was the site in 1836 of a thirteen-day siege against Mexican forces, becoming a symbol of Texas independence struggle.

Descending below street level, you walk along the River Walk, a network of pedestrian paths built along the San Antonio River in the nineteen-thirties as a flood mitigation measure.

Continuing along the river, you reach San José Mission, the largest of the city's Spanish missions, a UNESCO site alongside the Alamo itself.

Toward evening, restaurants and venues facing directly onto the River Walk waters illuminate among pedestrian bridges and tourist boats.

All defenders of the Alamo died during the 1836 siege, but the cry 'Remember the Alamo' became the motto of Texas troops who defeated the Mexican army weeks later, gaining independence.

The River Walk was built in response to a devastating 1921 flood, transforming what could have remained a recurring threat into one of the city's most beloved attractions.