THE MISSIONS AND SPANISH COLONIAL SITES
rom the late 17th century to the end of the 18th, Spain funded and built 36 missions in Texas. Five of these missions sprang up along the San Antonio River: Mission San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo, 1718), Mission San José y San Miguel de Agayo (1720), Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purisima Concepción de Acuña (1731), Mission San Juan Capistrano (1731), and Mission San Francisco de la Espada (1731). Of the original 36, only the five San Antonio missions remained intact. Constructed from limestone, an abundant local resource, these missions withstood the perils of battle, negligence, and the natural erosion which occurs over time. They served as places of worship, living quarters, and fortresses. Within the compound, aqueducts, or acequias, were constructed to run parallel to the San Antonio River to provide the water needed for the fields. The best remaining example of an acequia is found in Mission Espada, built between 1731 and 1745. It is the oldest irrigation system in the United States. In fact, the aqueduct, five dams, and 70 gravity-flow channels are still in use today.The missions reveal the Baroque, Romanesque, and Moorish architectural styles found in Spain, as well as traces of Mexican art and architecture. Several examples include: the Moorish dome at Mission Concepción (which also has some of the best acoustics in the nation, cited second only to the Mormon Tabernacle in Utah), the classical columns that frame the entrance to the Alamo, the carvings of Saint Joseph and Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mission San José (reminiscent of Mexican artwork), and the Moorish-style archway at the entry of Mission Espada. This architecture provides physical testament of Spain's influence in the new world.
Mission San Antonio de Valero (Alamo)
Location: 300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205, 210.225.1391
Hours of Operation: Monday - Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sunday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., No Mass
Admission: Donation
Mission Nuestra Señora Purisima Concepción de Acuña
Location: 807 Mission Road, San Antonio, TX 78210, 210.533.7109
Hours of Operation: Parish: Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.; Church: Monday - Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., No Mass
Admission: Donation
Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo ("Queen of the Missions")
Location: 701 E. Pyron, San Antonio, TX 78214, 210.922.0543
Hours of Operation: Parish: Monday - Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.; Church: Monday - Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Visitor's Center: Monday - Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (disseminates information regarding all missions); Mass at the main church: Sunday: 7:45 a.m., Spanish Mass: 9:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m., English Mariachi Mass: Noon, English Mass at the chapel: Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m.
Admission: Donation
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Location: 9102 Graf, San Antonio, TX 78214, 210.534.3161
Hours of Operation: Parish: Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Church: Monday - Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Mass: Sunday: 10:30 a.m., Spanish
Admission: Ticket price
Mission San Francisco de la Espada
Location: 1040 Espada, San Antonio, TX 78214, 210.627.2021
Hours of Operation: Parish: Monday - Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.; Church: Monday - Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Mass: Sunday: 10:00 a.m., Spanish, Saturday: 6:00 p.m., English
Admission: Donation
San Fernando Cathedral
The Canary Islanders founded this mission in 1731. It is the oldest mission in the United States.
Location: 115 Main Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205, 210.227.1297
Hours of Operation: Parish: Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Cathedral: Monday - Friday: 5:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., Saturday - Sunday: 5:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Admission: Free
La Villita
A past residential area of Spanish settlers and Indians, this is now a historic district. Part of La Villita, the Arneson Theater, is located on the San Antonio River and features special dance and music programs throughout the year.
Location: 418 Villita, San Antonio, TX 78205, 210.207.8610
Hours of Operation: Monday - Sunday: 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Admission: Free
The Spanish Governor's Palace
The Spanish Governor's Palace was built in 1722 and served as the seat of government for the Spanish province of Texas throughout the 18th century. The building was restored by the City of San Antonio in 1929 and named a National Historic Landmark in 1970 by the Department of the Interior. The furnished rooms and courtyard garden provide visitors an intimate glimpse into Spanish colonial times.
Location: 105 Plaza De Armas, San Antonio, TX 78205, 210.224.0601
Hours of Operation: Monday - Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sunday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Admission: $1.00/Adult, $.50/Child under 14
Missions and Spanish Colonial Sites
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