Celebrate the Blending of Cultures
The Coahuiltecans were at a crossroads. Referred to by the Spaniards’ collective term for all Native Americans, they sought refuge at the missions built by the Spanish colonizers. As their land, water, and food resources dwindled, the Coahuiltecans had no choice but to sacrifice the loss of some of the aspects of their culture.
In the early 1700s, Catholic religious orders that settled here from Spain built missions to bring Christianity to the indigenous people and expand their territory. Today, they stand as monuments to the blending of native and Spanish heritages into the unique South Texas culture celebrated by its descendants.
Known as the most well-preserved cluster of Spanish Colonial missions in the world, these four UNESCO World Heritage Sites constitute the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and are only a few miles apart. They are operated by the National Park Service through an agreement with the Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio and offer free admission, giving visitors the chance to explore the rich history and cultural heritage of these missions.
The missions paint a picture of the life and times of the period. On a quiet day, the soft sound of a Gregorian chant plays in the churches as guests wander through its nooks and crannies. On weekends, however, the churches on the mission grounds, all active Catholic parishes, come alive to celebrate masses, weddings, and baptisms, along with the missions’ continuous history.
Mission Concepción
Known as the best-preserved mission in San Antonio, it houses one of the oldest original stone churches in the United States. Because the church was built directly on bedrock, the building has maintained its integrity, allowing the largest single collection of Spanish Colonial frescoes in the nation to survive. The mission is also home to the Padre Margil Pilgrimage Center, named for the Spanish Franciscan missionary who helped found the missions. Visitors can also enjoy the information center’s interactive technology and film presentation.
Mission San José
The “Queen of the Missions,” so named for its size and beauty, is the largest of all the San Antonio missions. The walled complex, which housed 350 Native Americans, includes a church, native quarters, mill, and granary. Mission San José is the most restored mission and includes an on-site visitor’s center with a museum and film presentation, offering an authentic peek into what life was like back then.
Mission San Juan Capistrano
The large square footage of the visible ruins and reconstructed walls and buildings reveal the scale of this mission complex. This self-sustaining community produced everything from iron tools to cloth, raised cattle, farmed, and became a regional supplier to other communities.
Mission San Francisco de la Espada
In addition to the mission complex, the Espada Aqueduct, located two miles north, is the only functioning aqueduct from the Spanish colonial period in the United States. Aqueducts were built to carry water from their source to a distribution point far away to irrigate crops and provide drinking water — both crucial to sustaining life on arid land.
Mission San Antonio de Valero, AKA The Alamo
The Alamo is the most well-known of the San Antonio missions. During the Texas Revolution, a small band of Texas soldiers defended The Alamo against the Mexican Army. After their defeat and subsequent deaths, “Remember the Alamo” became the motto for Texas independence.
Unlike the other missions, its church is not an active Catholic parish. It was the first to be founded and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Today, the Alamo stands as a national historic landmark. Admission to the church is free, but a reservation is required. Both a reservation and admission fee are required for guided and self-guided tours.
El Camino de San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions recently partnered with Spain’s El Camino de Santiago de Compostela, a series of century-old pilgrimages, leading to Santiago’s cathedral, the resting place of the apostle St. James. Every year, nearly a half million pilgrims from all over the world participate in the spiritual, mental, physical, and mystical experience to this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Pilgrims who walk or bike to all four San Antonio missions and document their arrival with a stamp on their pilgrim passport – purchased at the Padre Margil Center – will receive a certificate verifying a credit of 30 kilometers or 19 miles toward Spain’s Camino Ingles – English route – to Santiago. The Spanish certificate of completion will show participants began in San Antonio, Texas and finished in Santiago, Spain.
What are UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
In 1972, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted a treaty for “the identification, protection and preservation of natural heritage around the world.” This agreement is unique in that 195 countries have pledged to secure the world’s most significant natural and cultural heritage from threats such as natural disasters, mass tourism, wars, and construction.