San Antonio

What it's known for

San Antonio is known for the Alamo, where in 1836 an outnumbered Texian force was defeated and all its defenders were killed, and for the River Walk, walkways lined with restaurants and shops one level below the streets. Its nicknames include 'Alamo City' and 'Military City USA'.

Fun facts

1. Spanish explorers reached the river on 13 June 1691, the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua, and named the place San Antonio in his honour.
2. The city began in 1718 as a Spanish mission and fort; the mission, San Antonio de Valero, later became known as the Alamo.
3. In 2015 the city's Spanish missions, together with the Alamo, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.