Mission Trail

Historic route in southern San Antonio, Texas, so called because it runs past four of the city's five Spanish missions (the fifth is the famous Alamo). Situated along the San Antonio River, these institutions formed the core of Spain's colonization of Texas in the 18th century. These sites contain many buildings of note.

Some of the missions along the Texas Mission Trail were moved here from earlier locations, encouraged by the friendly, or at least neutral, attitude of the local Coahuiltecan people. The Misión Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Acura (or ‘Mission Concepción’ for short, 1731), 4.3 km/2.7 mi south of San Antonio city centre, incorporates a stone church dating from 1755, the oldest unreconstructed church of its type in the USA. The Misión San José y San Miguel de Aguayo (or ‘Mission San José’, 1720), 7 km/4.5 mi south of the centre, is noted for its Churrigueresque chapel of the 1760s–80s. The Misión San Juan Capistrano (‘Mission San Juan’, 1691; moved to this site 1731) is 10 km/6.5 mi south-southeast of the centre. The Misión San Francisco de la Espada (‘Mission Espada’, 1690; moved to this site 1731) is 12 km/8 mi south-southeast of the centre, on the city limits; it is known for its complex irrigation system, which was devised in the early 18th century.