The City of San Antonio, Texas, was founded largely by the efforts of Antonio Olivares, a Spanish monk born in 1630, known colloquially as simply San Antonio. San Antonio is also responsible for celebrating the first Roman Catholic mass in Texas. He was instrumental in founding the institutions behind the San Antonio Missions tour.
Mission San Jose, formally known as San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo, the so-called Queen of the Missions, is also the largest of the five. Construction began in 1720 and ended in 1782. The initial structure suffered two major calamities. The first one was the collapse of the roof and the dome in 1874. The second catastrophe was in 1928, when the church tower collapsed. The buildings are composed of Texas limestone and a fascinating polychromatic substance, brightly colored stucco.
Other architectural features of note include the famous Rose window, carvings, flying buttresses and quatrefoil patterns. The quatrefoil is a form of Christian symbolism resembling a four-leaf clover. The choir loft is fashioned of two dozen risers, each of which was individually hand-crafted from a single timber. This feature contains neither nails nor pegs joining the risers together.
One of the most captivating features of Mission San Jose is the well-known Rose Window. In Europe, the term "rose window" was generically applied to a particular style of highly ornate, round window divided into wedges by a series of mullions. The window at the mission is shaped like a quatrefoil with a superimposed rectangle.
Although completely different from the traditional rose windows of Europe, this particular specimen was no less grandiose. It has its own folklore, although nobody can say for sure how it acquired its name. The structure is close to the ground at only 4.5 feet and stands a full seven feet tall.
There are three other missions contained within the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. These are Mission Espada, Mission Concepcion and Mission San Juan Capistrano. This third establishment is easily confused with its counterpart of the same name located in Southern California. The California mission is famous for flocks of swallows that return to it every spring. By far the most famous of the San Antonio missions, located outside the national park, is The Alamo.
The fifth Spanish mission located in San Antonio, The Alamo, was the site of one of the defining battles in Texas history during the Texas War of Independence (otherwise known as the Texas Revolution). The war, lasting six months, was between the Mexican government and the colonists of Texas. That particular conflict ended with the formation of the Texan republic. Prior to the Mexican-American War that took place in 1848, Texas was formally entered into the union as the 28th state.
The fifth Franciscan mission, situated outside the National Historical Park, is The Alamo. Now a museum in the Alamo Plaza District of downtown San Antonio, the Alamo is no longer a Catholic church. The park itself houses over 180 different species of bird. Each mission takes at least two to four hours to fully appreciate. Park admission and guided tours are free of charge.
Mission San Jose, formally known as San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo, the so-called Queen of the Missions, is also the largest of the five. Construction began in 1720 and ended in 1782. The initial structure suffered two major calamities. The first one was the collapse of the roof and the dome in 1874. The second catastrophe was in 1928, when the church tower collapsed. The buildings are composed of Texas limestone and a fascinating polychromatic substance, brightly colored stucco.
Other architectural features of note include the famous Rose window, carvings, flying buttresses and quatrefoil patterns. The quatrefoil is a form of Christian symbolism resembling a four-leaf clover. The choir loft is fashioned of two dozen risers, each of which was individually hand-crafted from a single timber. This feature contains neither nails nor pegs joining the risers together.
One of the most captivating features of Mission San Jose is the well-known Rose Window. In Europe, the term "rose window" was generically applied to a particular style of highly ornate, round window divided into wedges by a series of mullions. The window at the mission is shaped like a quatrefoil with a superimposed rectangle.
Although completely different from the traditional rose windows of Europe, this particular specimen was no less grandiose. It has its own folklore, although nobody can say for sure how it acquired its name. The structure is close to the ground at only 4.5 feet and stands a full seven feet tall.
There are three other missions contained within the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. These are Mission Espada, Mission Concepcion and Mission San Juan Capistrano. This third establishment is easily confused with its counterpart of the same name located in Southern California. The California mission is famous for flocks of swallows that return to it every spring. By far the most famous of the San Antonio missions, located outside the national park, is The Alamo.
The fifth Spanish mission located in San Antonio, The Alamo, was the site of one of the defining battles in Texas history during the Texas War of Independence (otherwise known as the Texas Revolution). The war, lasting six months, was between the Mexican government and the colonists of Texas. That particular conflict ended with the formation of the Texan republic. Prior to the Mexican-American War that took place in 1848, Texas was formally entered into the union as the 28th state.
The fifth Franciscan mission, situated outside the National Historical Park, is The Alamo. Now a museum in the Alamo Plaza District of downtown San Antonio, the Alamo is no longer a Catholic church. The park itself houses over 180 different species of bird. Each mission takes at least two to four hours to fully appreciate. Park admission and guided tours are free of charge.
EmoticonEmoticon