La Librea was the name of a military defence force led by one captain, obsessed with defending Tegueste, Tejina, Punta Hidalgo and Valle Guerra against sea attacks by pirates. They would also fire their guns as a mark of respect for their patron's statue, and that tradition continued even after the forces left the town, with volunteers using mock weapons. The reconstruction consists of a battle between La Librea and the three ships of Tegueste, in the Plaza de San Marcos, with lots of gunfire, fantastic costumes, symbolism, and of course, lots of fun. The traditional recreation of La Librea, the 'Meeting of the Ship and the Castle', is an evening event which is followed by a fantastic fireworks display.

This article appears in the print edition 650 of Island Connections