San Antonio is just 80 miles south of Texas capitol Austin. It is a fun city to explore, be it taking a walk/cruise along the River Walk or spending time visiting the city’s historic missions. My work buddy joined us for the 2 days we went around this town.
Walking, Dining, Cruising along River Walk – San Antonio’s Riverwalk is one of the most visited places in Texas. Some of the best hotels, restaurants, and shops are located along the San Antonio River flowing through the city. Located below street level, this is a beautiful place for a stroll with calm waters, cute bridges, and plenty of shade from large trees towering over the banks. We took a ride on one of the barges and then dined in a restaurant with outdoor patio.
Japanese Tea Garden – A former rock quarry, this area was transformed into a peaceful garden with exotic plants, ponds with koi, waterfalls, and a lovely stone pavilion. There are walkways all through the garden.
The Alamo – One of the 5 Missions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Alamo was part of the mission station established here in 1718, its church built by Franciscans in 1744.
In 1836, the Battle of the Alamo, one of the most famous battles in US history, played out here, when a small force entrenched themselves in the Alamo against a Mexican army of 3,000. All the defenders were killed, including legendary figures Davy Crockett and James Bowie, in a battle that some estimate may have lasted only 20 minutes.
Mission San Jose – One of the 5 Missions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and founded in 1720, it is known as the “Queen of the Missions”, as this is the largest of the missions and was almost fully restored to its original design in the 1930s by the WPA (Works Projects Administration). Mission San Jose and its surrounding grounds called labores, sustained a thriving community of Indians and Spaniards. Within the walls Indians lived, worshipped, and attended classes. They learned to blacksmith, weave on European looms, make shoes, and cotton cloths. Outside the walls, the Indians tended fields, orchards, and livestock. The goal of the missionaries was to teach the local Indians to live and worship like Spanish and ultimately, to exist independent of the mission.
Mission Espada – One of the 5 Missions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was the first Spanish Mission in Texas. It was founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas near present-day Nacogdoches in East Texas. It was renamed as Mission San Francisco de la Espada when it moved to San Antonio in 1731.
Mission Concepcion – One of the 5 Missions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mission Concepción appears very much as it did over two centuries ago. It stands proudly as the oldest unrestored stone church in America. The mission was more than a church, it was a village, fort, school, and ranch where Spanish culture was taught to the native people.
Mission San Juan – Originally founded in 1716 in eastern Texas, Mission San Juan was transferred in 1731 to its present location. In 1756, the stone church, a friary, and a granary were completed. A larger church was begun, but was abandoned when half complete, the result of population decline.
Mission San Juan was a self-sustaining community. Within the compound, Indigenous artisans produced iron tools, cloth, and prepared hides. Orchards and gardens outside the walls provided melons, peaches, and pumpkins. Beyond the mission complex Indigenous mission farmers cultivated maize (corn), peppers, beans, squash, sweet potatoes, and sugar cane in irrigated fields. By mid 1700s, Mission San Juan, with its rich farm lands, was a regional supplier of agricultural produce along the historic trading route, El Camino de Real de los Tejas.
San Fernando Cathedral – Famous as the burial site of the heroes of the Alamo, the Roman Catholic San Fernando Cathedral (Church of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria y Guadalupe) is one of the oldest cathedrals in the US. Completed in 1750 the cathedral is on Main Plaza and is a great places to visit after dark. At night, it becomes the stage for one of San Antonio’s most visually compelling attractions, known as San Antonio – The Saga.
Bexar County Courthouse – A historic building in downtown San Antonio, it borders the Main Plaza and is opposite the historic Cathedral of San Fernando. Its cornerstone was laid in 1892 and the grand Courthouse was completed in 1897. Red sandstone was the main material used in the construction of the building. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The Bexar County Courthouse is the largest and oldest courthouse that is still operating in Texas.
