"SPANISH MISSIONS OF SAN ANTONIO" San Antonio by Thestumps

These Spanish Missions spread across Texas from the Nacagdoches area on to El Paso. San Antonio claims at least 5 missions. I have seen these type Franciscan missions in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama and all over Mexico. I could see no Latin inscriptions on these walls. I did take a compass reading as I stepped in front of the SACRISY of a few San Antonio mission sites, I noticed that the face of the structure always faced EAST. Seems like the main part of the church always was built on the west side facing the rising sun. These architects must have known how to lay out their plans for construction. They must have had great surveying skills. Indian labor helped in the construction of these missions and excellent ACEQUIAS or AQUADUCTS brought water for irrigating crops.

Probably the largest and best known of the missions in San Antonio. I have been to this mission at least three times. The first time in 1981 and recently in December of 2006. I never get tired of seeing these missions. If you only have time to see one mission while in San Antonio, this one is it.

These missions were constructed in the 1700's around San Antonio. Here at Mission SAN JOSE, you can see the entrance to the church. You can go inside there and mass is given inside. Some of the decendants of these missions are still active in the church. Many volunteers give their services to answer your questions about life in the missions.