California Missions
Aug 29th, 2003, 05:22 AM
#1
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California Missions
Will be in SanFranciso area in late September and would like to see several of the old missions. Two that look promising are San Carlos Borromeo in Carmel, and San Juan Bautista just north of Salinas. Would appreciate opinions on either/both/others in the area. I realize they are still functioning as churches, so I'm also wondering what the rules and procedures are for viewing the interiors. (For us heathens).... thanks for any information.
Bill
Bill
Aug 29th, 2003, 06:46 AM
#2
I haven't been to every single one, but when you live in Calif. and have kids, they all do the 4th grade lessons on missions, you start visiting them. Anyway, to answer your question, the one is Carmel is beautiful; there is a tour of the mission, which includes Father Serra's final resting place (in the Church) and the room in which he lived and died. The grounds are delightful. If you are there on a Sunday, when they have church services, you can stand in the back until it's over, then head up front, where Fr. Serra is buried.
Haven't been to San Juan Bautista. However, if you're going to be in S.F., Mission Delores (otherwise known as St. Francis of Assisi) is a small mission, but worth seeing, particularly the garden and cemetery on the side.
The best 2 missions I've been to are the ones in San Juan Capistrano and San Miguel, which is right off the 101, north of SLO, just north of Paso Robles.
They are all open for viewing for a small donation and you can wear what you like. Obviously when there's a church service, you must be quiet, but you can go inside. The churches are all separated from the living quarters of the mission.
Haven't been to San Juan Bautista. However, if you're going to be in S.F., Mission Delores (otherwise known as St. Francis of Assisi) is a small mission, but worth seeing, particularly the garden and cemetery on the side.
The best 2 missions I've been to are the ones in San Juan Capistrano and San Miguel, which is right off the 101, north of SLO, just north of Paso Robles.
They are all open for viewing for a small donation and you can wear what you like. Obviously when there's a church service, you must be quiet, but you can go inside. The churches are all separated from the living quarters of the mission.
Aug 29th, 2003, 07:14 AM
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Sinehat, You have definitely picked out two of the best. The entire small town of San Juan Bautista is interesting. There are lots of restored and living museum buildings to visit. Also, picnic grounds and some nice restaurants.
Aug 29th, 2003, 07:32 AM
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There is also a mission in San Francisco itself - San Francisco de Asis in the heart of the Mission District.
There are a couple of missions north of San Francisco - San Francisco de Solano and San Rafael.
South of San Francisco are the two that you have mentioned - Carmel and San Juan Bautista. A bit closer are three others:
San Jose - which is NOT in San Jose, but in Fremont
Santa Clara de Asis - which IS in Santa Clara, on the campus of Santa Clara University, a Catholic University. It has recently been been renovated, is quite beautiful with its new stained glass windows, and is a functional church and chapel.
Santa Cruz
Going southward, you will have a string of missions in Central California, starting with the one in Soledad.
Hope you can visit as many as possible!
There are a couple of missions north of San Francisco - San Francisco de Solano and San Rafael.
South of San Francisco are the two that you have mentioned - Carmel and San Juan Bautista. A bit closer are three others:
San Jose - which is NOT in San Jose, but in Fremont
Santa Clara de Asis - which IS in Santa Clara, on the campus of Santa Clara University, a Catholic University. It has recently been been renovated, is quite beautiful with its new stained glass windows, and is a functional church and chapel.
Santa Cruz
Going southward, you will have a string of missions in Central California, starting with the one in Soledad.
Hope you can visit as many as possible!
Aug 29th, 2003, 08:16 AM
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I agree that Carmel and San Juan Bautista are 2 of the best missions to visit in the area.
The whole town of San Juan Bautista is great - the old square has several original buildings and several others that have been reconstructed. For a few dollars you can tour the old buildings and sometimes they have docents doing demonstrations - baking bread in adobe ovens and things like that. There is a 20 minute movie which plays at the old hotel which gives a good history lesson about the area.
On Sundays of course there is mass at the working missions, and on Saturdays there are likely to be weddings. Either way though, you just wait until they are over and then go into the church.
The whole town of San Juan Bautista is great - the old square has several original buildings and several others that have been reconstructed. For a few dollars you can tour the old buildings and sometimes they have docents doing demonstrations - baking bread in adobe ovens and things like that. There is a 20 minute movie which plays at the old hotel which gives a good history lesson about the area.
On Sundays of course there is mass at the working missions, and on Saturdays there are likely to be weddings. Either way though, you just wait until they are over and then go into the church.
Sep 1st, 2003, 06:40 AM
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I think the San Jose mission is completely rebuilt (i.e. it is a replica). Mission Santa Clara is pretty but I really like San Juan Bautista because the entire town is cute and it has the San Andreas fault running right behind it and it really looks like a fault (a gash in the ground) which is pretty neat.
Sep 1st, 2003, 11:28 AM
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Should you make it up to wine country (try to!) don't overlook the simple little mission just off the square in downtown Sonoma. Its given name is Mission San Francisco de Solano but I think it is now known as Sonoma State Historic Park. I believe it is the northernmost of the mission system. Of the missions I've visited, this one gives me the real feel of what those days were like the best. The back dusty courtyard with its native plants seems like a setting from an old western movie - something from another era. And inside! The Jorgensen watercolors are simply awe inspiring. Jorgensen was a Norwegian immigrant/artist in the early 20th century and he and his wife spent years documenting the entire mission system in stunning watercolors. If you can't make it to Sonoma, I agree with Monica in that San Juan Bautista should not be missed. [see Hitchcock's Vertigo for a somewhat altered version of this mission]
Sep 1st, 2003, 01:01 PM
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Other Missions closer to SF than the ones you mentioned are Mission Santa Clara and Misson San Jose.
http://missiontour.org/santaclara/index.htm
http://gocalifornia.about.com/bl_mis_scl.htm
http://missiontour.org/sanjose/index.htm
http://gocalifornia.about.com/bl_mis_sj.htm
http://missiontour.org/santaclara/index.htm
http://gocalifornia.about.com/bl_mis_scl.htm
http://missiontour.org/sanjose/index.htm
http://gocalifornia.about.com/bl_mis_sj.htm
Sep 1st, 2003, 01:16 PM
#10
My personal favorite is not quite as close to SF, but well worth the drive. San Antonio de Padua is south of King City, directly inland of Big Sur. It it probably the only mission that is still in its original setting; ie out in a field in the middle of nowhere with cattle roaming and a little river nearby. They used to rent out the monks cells to visitors, but I don't know if they still do.
If you choose to come across from Big Sur, make sure it is nice weather...the road is one of those that is only one lane and hugs the mountain with a long drop on the other side! It is well paved though, and has camping areas at the end.
My family used to vacation at the military base up the road (Hunter Liggett). The big spanish building and dining hall are historic ...used to be Hearst's hunting lodge and was designed by the same woman who worked on San Simeon. Its been about 10 years since I last visited, so don't know how much post 911 security has closed it off.
If you choose to come across from Big Sur, make sure it is nice weather...the road is one of those that is only one lane and hugs the mountain with a long drop on the other side! It is well paved though, and has camping areas at the end.
My family used to vacation at the military base up the road (Hunter Liggett). The big spanish building and dining hall are historic ...used to be Hearst's hunting lodge and was designed by the same woman who worked on San Simeon. Its been about 10 years since I last visited, so don't know how much post 911 security has closed it off.
Sep 1st, 2003, 01:18 PM
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I'm not positive this is true, but I was told that the bell tower in San Juan Bautista was the tower that appeared at the end of "Vertigo" (the Hitchcock film). I have been there, and it looks plausible. True or not, I agree, it's a nice little town to walk around...have a great trip!
