Twenty one missions were built in southern California as part of the Spanish colonisation of the eighteenth century, from San Diego de Alcala in the south - the earliest to be constructed, in 1769 - to San Francisco de Solano in the north. All have a similar design with a large whitewashed church next to an enclosed quadrangle with various other buildings for storage, housing, etc, and served as bases from which to explore the surrounding territory and spread Christianity to the native Indians. Both these needs declined after the mid nineteenth century after which most of the California missions fell into disuse. Those that remained functional were subject to rebuilding and additions over the years, and extensive restoration has taken place at some of the others so in many cases little of the original structure remains. However, the buildings today still look authentic and are now focal points for tourism as well as still being used for regular church services. Most have museums and large gardens with exotic plants, and stage religious and other events. Their locations are just a few miles from the road known as El Camino Real, most of which is now US 101, and are generally found in suburban settings.
Descriptions of the three southernmost California missions are given below.
Mission San Diego de Alcala - first built of the 21 missions, San Diego de Alcala is 7 miles from downtown San Diego in a quiet, leafy part of the suburbs yet close to several main roads and the I-8/I-15 interchange. The centerpiece is the church with its distinctive 3-tiered belltower, rather aged and authentic in appearance yet most dates only from the 1930s, when the then partially ruined building was extensively restored. In front is a small, well established garden containing flowers and blossoming bushes - a photogenic scene, and the mission seems a popular place to visit. A small walled garden adjoins the side of the church with more bushes, trees and cacti; this has a small museum with the obligitory gift shop and several other buildings of more historic interest.
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia - the second and largest of the missions, San Luis Rey de Francia sits at the side of the wide San Luis Rey river valley 4 miles east of Oceanside, in a rural area that has a mixture of cultivated fields and small villages. The buildings are quite imposing, centred around a large church made in the traditional Spanish colonial style with a gleaming white appearance as if recently repainted. To one side lies a large enclosed quadrangle lined with colonnades and containing a lawn and gardens including, of incidental interest, the oldest pepper tree in California. A cemetery dating from 1780 occupies ground at the other side while the land in front of the church has ruins of other historic structures principally barracks, kilns and an aqueduct. The frontage is bordered by examples of Californian desert plants including several huge yucca while in front is an large parking area with extensive lawns, a good place for a picnic.
Mission San Juan Capistrano - San Juan Capistrano is a pleasant town along I-5, 4 miles from the Pacific Ocean and just about at the southern end of the Los Angeles suburbs. The mission of the same name was the seventh to be established, in 1776, and has remained in active use ever since. It is one of the most popular and has extensive buildings including a church and chapel, barracks, warehouses, a cemetery, a jail, an industrial center (ruined) and various rooms used as museums with exhibits of both the history of the mission and Spanish settlement in California. The adobe Serra Chapel is the oldest building in the state and contains a gold covered altar originally from Barcelona in Spain which is thought to be over 300 years old. The mission has one large enclosed central courtyard and other associated gardens, all with flourishing trees, wildflowers, cacti and succulents, fountains and statues, and several hours could be spent exploring all the different areas.
The 18 other missions are found at intervals of 40 miles or so northwards, mostly well inland but a few are almost beside the coast. All are open to visitors and offer similar attractions.
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