The Mission Trails is a $17.7 million hike and bike trail beginning at Mission San Francisco de la Espada designed to connect the five historic missions of San Antonio. There are markers to keep you on the trail.
The 10-mile trail connects the Alamo, Mission Concepcíon (established 1731), Mission San José (established 1720, known as "Queen of the Texas Missions") and Mission Espada (founded 1690). There are both "wet" and "dry" routes. The Daughters of the Republic of Texas administer the Alamo and the National Park Service administers the other four missions.
Except for the Alamo, all of the missions are active church parishes. Of special note at Mission San José is "Rosa's Window"--considered to be one of the finest pieces of Spanish Colonial ornamentation in the country. At Mission Concepcíon notice the brightly colored paintings still visible on the twin towers used to attract the Indians and the original 18th century wall paintings illustrating colors dramatically brought back to life through recent conservation efforts.
Mission San Juan Capistrano was moved to San Antonio in 1731 from an earlier location in eastern Texas. Here in the chapel are rare figures of Christ and the Virgin made of cornstalk pith. Most of the original compound is preserved here.
Mission Espada, relocated to San Antonio in 1731 from east Texas, was originally the sacristy for the stone church (never completed) but was converted into the present structure about 1884. The Moorish-styled, arched doorway dates from about 1780 and represents some of the chapel's most original fabric.
The Visitor Center is located next to the Mission San Jose and contains a theater showing a 20-minute depiction of early life at the mission, a museum and bookshop.
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