Clearwater To Welcome Dignitaries From Sister City In Mexico

CLEARWATER, FL — Clearwater's new sister city — Ixmiquilpan, Mexico — shares many characteristics with its Florida sibling, including celebrating cultural diversity, preserving historical sites and a love of murals — except Ixmiquilpan's murals predate most of Clearwater's murals by more than 400 years.

Both cities have also made Tripadvisor's list of great cities to visit.

The cities of Clearwater and Ixmiquilpan, Mexico, will officially sign an agreement at a ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 19, that will designate the municipalities as Sister Cities.

Numerous dignitaries from both cities will be attending the ceremony beginning at noon at the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Clearwater, 2001 Rainbow Drive.

The event will begin with cultural expressions, followed by remarks from Vice Consul of Mexico in Orlando Javier de la Vega Vargas.

At 12:30 p.m., Clearwater Mayor Brian Aungst Sr. and Ixmiquilpan Mayor Araceli Beltrán Contreras will sign the Sister Cities agreement, followed by remarks from both mayors.

Sister Cities International is a national initiative begun by Dwight D. Eisenhower shortly after World War II to develop economic, cultural and technical exchanges between U.S. cities, counties and states with corresponding communities worldwide.

The goal of the Sister Cities program is to involve people and organized groups at all levels of society, establishing productive people-to-people relationships through global community partnerships and volunteer action.

Today, the SCI represents 1,200 U.S. cities, counties and states and their 2,100 partners in 125 countries worldwide. As international cooperation gains importance, city-to-city programs continue to play a significant role in overall global development and cultural understanding.

Founded in 1550, Ixmiquilpan is one of the 84 municipalities in Hidalgo in central-eastern Mexico. The town of Ixmiquilpan, which has a population of 98,654 people, is noted for its parish church, Church of San Miguel Arcangel. Built by Augustine monks using native Otomi labor, the church contains a large series of murals done in the 16th century by native artists depicting Eagle and Jaguar warriors in battle along with other pre-Hispanic imagery.

For more information, contact Amber Brice at 727-562-4067 or email amber.brice@myclearwater.com.