Alfredo G. Ledesma

The UNESCO Center of Castilla-La Mancha, on March 4, conferred upon the city of Guanajuato the title of Cervantine Capital of the Americas , at the same time as it inaugurated the celebrations of the 400 year anniversary of Cervantes's novel Don Quixote de la Mancha , celebrations that will continue throughout the year.

The Guanajuato city council held a session exclusively for the purpose of receiving the title of Cervantine Capital at the Teatro Juárez. There, the state governor, Juan Carlos Romero Hicks, praised the participation of the people of Guanajuato in building the world of Cervantes on this continent, having a unique role in this respect.

He underscored the importance of the work of Eulalio Ferrer, whom he called a pillar in the consolidation of the Cervantine project, the main complement of which is the Center of Cervantine Studies , and also the Cervantine manifestations that have come to life in Guanajuato over the last 55 years.

For her part, the ambassador of Spain in Mexico , María Cristina Barrios y Almazor, affirmed that whether the cause be the Cervantine Foundation, the Iconographic Museum , the Center of Cervantine Studies , the International Cervantino Festival, or all of these institutions together, "Don Quixote is today a Guanajuatan."

She said that there are few cities around the world that are so deserving of the title of Cervantine Capital of the Americas as is Guanajuato, and few that have become so intensely identified with a literary figure.

The president of the UNESCO Center of Castilla-La Mancha, Fernando Redondo Benito, who conferred the title of Cervantine Capital upon the state capital, said that Guanajuato is Cervantes and Cervantes is Guanajuato; the citizens of this noble city are Quixotes and Sanchos, Dulcineas and so many other characters that can be found in Cervantes's novel Don Quixote .

Castilla-La Mancha government councilor José Valverde said that the people of Guanajuato read, feel and live Don Quixote, especially the children.

As part of the naming of the state capital as Cervantine Capital of the Americas and the commencement of festivities in celebration of 400 years of Don Quixote de la Mancha , the city government inaugurated yet another plaza dedicated to Don Quixote, where the mayor, Arnulfo Vázquez Nieto unveiled a statue of the ingenious hidalgo.

Local state and city leaders, Spanish authorities and representatives from institutions which are prominently involved in activities around Cervantes were present to witness the unveiling of the statue.

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