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San Antonio UNESCO Missions: Engaging Historical Tour
5.0
86 Ratings
San Antonio
Experience an engaging, historically accurate, and entertaining tour of the San Antonio UNESCO Missions. Learn about life at the missions, architectural influences, and the interdependence between different cultures. Book now!
Duration:
2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Mission Espada - Southern-most mission of the five in San Antonio, this location is the start of your tour and will lay the foundational context for the rest of the tour. You will walk into the interior of this mission, hear interesting information about its’ inhabitants and the Friars, as well as, the construction and layout of the mission. You will also have an opportunity to walk into the church that looks as it did in the 1700’s.
- Mission San Juan - Just five minutes from the first stop at Mission Espada, this mission has a fully renovated church that is not only charming, but impressive in its’ reconstruction and the highlight of this stop. Hear about the inhabitants at this location, the construction of this mission, and what life was like for them. You will visit a small museum that has wonderful displays of materials used by the inhabitants, the use water for agriculture, among interesting other information.
- Mission San Jose - The “Queen of the Missions” is the largest and most renovated mission in San Antonio, the finest example of Baroque architecture in Texas. Here, you will learn about its’ function as a mission, as well as, the impressive revitalization by the WPA in the 1930’s. You will experience the living quarters of all groups that lived and worked at the mission, have an exclusive interior guided tour of the Church, and learn so much more! Over 2000 of architectural, religious and cultural influences, and a reverence for the indigenous labor that made Mission San Jose the “Queen”.
- Mission Concepcion - Mission Concepcion is hands down the most charming of all the missions. Hear about its’ inhabitants, what life was life at this location, and learn about the creation of its’ duel bell tower church, the oldest stone church in the US! You will see a 250 year old fresco, a fascinating ocular display, and the interior of the church where you will be humbled by its’ beauty. You will see some other architectural highlights here, but those a secret and I can’t wait to tell you all about them!
- The Alamo - Short EXTERIOR visit to the Alamo to discuss its function as a mission, and of course, the battle. This is optional if you do not plan on visit the interior of the Alamo.
What's Included
- Transportation
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Bottled water
Additional Information
This is the most engaging, historically accurate and entertaining missions tour you will find in San Antonio. Guaranteed.
You will learn what life was like at the missions, construction and architectural influences, and the relationship between the Franciscan Friars, soldiers and the Payaya, Coahuiltecan and other indigenous tribes. This is a nuanced and beautifully presented experience about colonialization, but also interdependence. At the end of this tour, you will be impressed with the largest concentration of Spanish missions in the US!
Please consider purchasing our “Missions and More” tour, as it includes all four missions PLUS two more centuries of San Antonio history and diverse cultures. See reviews for that tour please.
Locally owned/operated by professional guide and history teacher, stand-up comic (with Kevin Hart:), performer and world traveler Michael Robinson.
Location
Mission Espada
10040 Espada Rd
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(86 Ratings)
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691nenap
Jun 16, 2024
Best tour I’ve ever been on - If you are thinking about doing a tour of the Missions in San Antonio, I highly recommend this tour. I would give it a 6 if I could. Micheal was very knowledgeable about the history of the missions themselves, but also of the area during the time the missions were active. My family and I had an amazing time. I would definitely book another tour with Micheal in a heartbeat.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rickydaled
May 3, 2024
Amazing day! - We had an amazing day with Michael touring the missions and learning about the history of San Antonio. We found him knowledgeable, friendly and funny as we spent 7 hours with him taking a trip through time. Next time we’re in town, we’ll absolutely hire Michael as our tour guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kasias837
Feb 20, 2024
Wonderful tour that highlights such important history! - Wonderful tour that was not only historically accurate but also culturally sensitive. Mike did an excellent job and was a great host!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T4602lpmarkc
Feb 3, 2024
San Antonio wonderful tour. - San Antonio Pro great tour, knowledgeable and personable guide who exceeded expectations and left us with a fantastic history of the missions is San Antonio.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Helmut922
Jan 19, 2024
A most excellent tour - Michael is a top notch tour guide. He mixes a friendly social approach to us as visitors with the knowledge of a professional historian. - and he does it well. We highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mymom
Jan 13, 2024
Excellent tour of Missions - We were traveling in a group of 4, two couples. We booked Michael to pick us up at our hotel on the River Walk and give us a tour of the Missions. He has great communication, was prompt, very personable and very knowledgeable. He altered his tour slightly to accommodate our interests - when we expressed interest in indigenous foods and asked for a lunch recommendation he suggested we all go to Pharm Table. We had a great lunch there, trying mesquite pancakes, amaranth and a mesquite latte. Thanks for a great tour and great conversation!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Williamsu94hh
Dec 31, 2023
This is the tour for you! - Michael is the perfect guide. Knowledgeable and witty. Kept the tour moving at at the perfect pace
Don’t look any further. Book this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
61lesliep
Oct 31, 2023
Totally worthwhile tour - Husband and I booked a private tour with Michael. Happily for us, he accommodated our needs when we had to ask for a date change less than a week before the tour. We know a good bit about Texas and missions' history. Michael began the tour probing our knowledge and tailored his talk accordingly. We came away having learned a lot and were thoroughly impressed by his knowledge of history and his charming personality. It was great to have someone drive us between missions, all the while explaining more information. Highly recommend both Michael and this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dimitri_b
Oct 28, 2023
Great tour - This was a very informative tour, we learned a lot about the unique history of the 5 missions of San Antonio. Michael is also a very entertaining tour guide.
Review provided by Viator
Verdesaucy
Oct 27, 2023
Awesome Private Tour - We hired Michael for a private food / brewery tour for 15 friends from all over the US. From the first day I emailed him in June, to the day of our tour in October, he was fantastic. He's a local and knows all the best spots and he coordinated an awesome tour. He shared a lot of San Antonio history with us and we even made an impromptu stop at Mission Concepción so we could do a photo op and learn about the Spanish Missions of San Antonio. I would highly recommend Michael. This was an awesome way to explore San Antonio!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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