Manuel Vilas, Teresa López Cerdán and Emma Lira lead the first Santiago de Letras Festival, a literary bridge between the Canary Islands and Galicia

 

Santiago del Teide is preparing to become the new literary epicentre of the Canary Islands. On September 13 and 14, 2025, the town will host the first edition of the Santiago de Letras Festival, an event that was born with the firm purpose of decentralising culture, bringing literature to new territories and turning the historic centre of the town into a stage of creation and meeting.

 

The festival is organised by the City Council of Santiago del Teide, in collaboration with Atlántida Cultural, a Canarian production company specialising in cultural events, and has the support of the Hotel Rural La Casona del Patio, which will be one of the key scenarios of the programming.

 

Under the slogan "The Way of Words", Santiago de Letras will bring together great names of current Spanish literature, along with local authors who will actively participate in an ambitious program full of emotions.

 

Manuel Vilas: themed dinner, podcast and presentation in the square

 

Among the protagonists of this first edition stands out Manuel Vilas, one of the most influential writers of contemporary Spanish narrative. Vilas will be the centre of several special appointments:

 

• A themed dinner, on September 12, in which gastronomy and literature will intertwine to go through the emotional landscapes of his work.

 

• The live recording of a literary podcast with an audience, also on the 12th, where Vilas will reflect on his career and his vision of current literature.

 

• And the most anticipated: the presentation of his novel on the main stage of the Plaza de la Iglesia, open to the public, where he will share with the attendees his reflections, fragments of his work and direct dialogue with readers.

 

Teresa López Cerdán: literary brunch and public presentation

 

The writer Teresa López Cerdán will star, on Sunday, September 14, in an exclusive literary brunch at the Hotel Rural La Casona del Patio, where she will talk in an intimate atmosphere about her characters, her creative process and the literary universe that characterises her work. In addition:

 

• He will present his novel on the main stage of the Plaza de la Iglesia, allowing the entire festival audience to enjoy his speech and get closer to his literature.

 

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Emma Lira presents "The Captive", the novel that will hit the cinema

 

Another great figure who joins the poster is Emma Lira, a renowned journalist and writer, who:

 

• He will present a scoop on his new novel "El Cautivo" in the Plaza de la Iglesia, based on the script of the next film of the same name directed by Alejandro Amenábar, whose premiere in theatres is also scheduled for September. This connection with cinema makes Santiago de Letras a privileged stage for one of the most anticipated cultural events of the year.

 

Protagonism of local talent

 

The Literary Collective of Santiago del Teide, very active in the cultural life of the municipality, will have an outstanding participation. Its members will star in public readings, round tables and presentations, contributing their talent and their perspective on local literary creation. Its involvement reinforces the community and participatory character of the festival.

 

"Santiago de Letras was born so that literature lives in the squares, in the people, and to give voice to both established authors and our local writers, who have a lot to tell," highlights Emilia Vié, director of the festival and head of Atlántida Cultural.

 

A twinning that builds bridges

 

One of the most exciting aspects of this first edition is the twinning with the Encamiño Festival, held in Miño (A Coruña, Galicia). This agreement will allow an unprecedented literary and cultural exchange between the Canary Islands and Galicia, united by the spirit of the Camino, both physical and symbolic.

 

Thanks to this twinning:

 

• Authors of the Literary Collective of Santiago del Teide will travel to Miño in July, participating in the Encamiño Festival on July 19, 20 and 21, where they will share the stage with Galician writers and present their works.

 

• In September, Galician writers will visit Santiago del Teide, intervening in talks, readings and activities within the festival.

 

"The road unites territories, cultures and words. We want this union between Miño and Santiago del Teide to be a poetic and human alliance that extends over time," adds Vié.

 

Institutional declaration

 

"This festival is an extraordinary opportunity to show that Santiago del Teide is much more than a beautiful place: it is also a living space for culture and creation. We are convinced that this first edition of Santiago de Letras will be the beginning of a story that will grow year after year, making our municipality a cultural reference," says David Quintero, Councillor for Culture of the Santiago del Teide City Council.

 

Culture that makes its way

 

The Santiago de Letras Festival will transform the Plaza de la Iglesia and other emblematic corners of the historic centre into literary scenarios. There will be talks, presentations, readings, book signings and innovative activities such as walking literary creation workshops, which will merge hiking and writing in the volcanic landscapes of the municipality.

 

Reservations for activities with limited capacity, such as brunch and themed dinner, will be opened in the coming days. All information will be shared on official social networks and on the festival website.

 

Press contact:

 

Emilia Vié

 

Director of the Santiago de Letras Festival

 

📞662955596

 

📧 Santiagodeletras@gmail.com

 

Instagram: @festival.santiagodeletras

 

Facebook: Santiago de Letras