Still on vacation, but…..

21 February 2009 by Libbi.

King and Queen of Spain in Pensacola to Recognize Spanish Legacy and Commemorate the 450th Anniversary of the First U.S. Settlement
Official visit to focus on historic sites in Pensacola

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ — In 1559, Spanish explorer
Don Tristan de Luna landed on the shore of what is now Pensacola and
attempted the first major European settlement in the United States.
Honoring its unique place in American history, HRH Juan Carlos Borbon and
Dona Sofia de Borbon of Spain will make an official visit to Pensacola on
the 19th of February 2009. There they will speak to the public from the TT
Wentworth Museum, located in the Pensacola Historic District, and they will
also attend a luncheon with local business and political leaders.

“This official visit of the King and Queen of Spain recognizes and
commemorates the Spanish heritage in Pensacola and across the entire State
of Florida,” said Bud Nocera, president and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA. “We are
extraordinarily honored to receive the King and Queen of Spain to highlight
the Spanish legacy throughout our state.”

The royal visit is part of a statewide marketing emphasis to promote
heritage-based travel to Florida. VISIT FLORIDA, the private-public state
tourism organization, hopes to garner support from its considerable tourism
partner base to raise awareness of Florida’s rich Spanish colonial
heritage. Later this spring, VISIT FLORIDA and the Florida-Spain Heritage
Celebration Committee will introduce the Hispanic Heritage Trail Guidebook
and website tracing the conquistador’s route to attract individuals and
families interested in exploring the Spanish cultural and historic legacy
in the state. The effort touches each of the many historic sites found
throughout Florida.

The sites include St. Augustine, the oldest Spanish settlement in
Florida, and many others with newer Spanish footprints including Key West,
Tampa, Miami and Orlando. The heritage tourism marketing initiative is
organized by VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s official tourism organization,
which is supporting Visit Pensacola, the local tourism board, and Celebrate
Pensacola in its own heritage-based marketing program and commemoration.

The Pensacola Bay area, which is commemorating the 450th anniversary of
the Spanish arrival in 2009, will host a string of special events beginning
with the Pensacola Wine Festival from April 2-5, 2009. Highlights include
wine classes, Gallery night, gourmet dinner, festive paella, and Grand wine
tasting and tapas.

To recognize this indelible Spanish legacy, Celebrate Pensacola
launched a three year campaign to bring the royal family to its shores and
to commemorate the history that began with Don Tristan de Luna’s
1500-person mission. Pensacola has also scheduled numerous events through
the coming year, including an exhibit by artist Miguel Zapata, a
reenactment of the Battle of Pensacola, a Spanish Heritage Festival, a
visit by the tall ship Juan Sebastian de Elcano, a commemoration of Don
Tristan de Luna’s landfall, concerts and much more.

For information about Pensacola, please visit
http://www.celebratepensacola.com. For tickets, the public should call (800)
874-1234.

About VISIT FLORIDA

VISIT FLORIDA is an industry-driven, public-private partnership and it
is the official tourism marketing corporation for the state of Florida.
VISIT FLORIDA promotes tourism to Florida through sales, advertising,
promotions, public relations, new product development and visitor services
programs. As a public/private partnership, VISIT FLORIDA has more than
3,400 tourism industry partners and four major strategic alliances with
American Express Travel Related Services, AirTran Airways, Dollar Rent A
Car and The Hertz Corporation. In the summer of 2008, a newly appointed
Florida-Spain Heritage Celebration Committee was tasked to promote travel
to and within Florida by highlighting Florida’s Spanish Colonial history
and cultural heritage. For additional visitor information please visit
http://www.VISITFLORIDA.com.

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